Messy Art for Preschool – Rubber Band Snap Painting

I’m not sure that I’m in majority, but I love love love messy art projects.  Yes, they are a pain to clean up, but they are such a fun experience for the children because they never get to do stuff like this at home, and it’s always a new way to experience the materials that you’re using.  As for the cleaning part, the children are usually just as excited to help me clean up as they are to actually do the activity. 

Here is one of my all-time favorite messy art projects:

Rubber Band Snap Painting doesn’t require a ton of materials. You’ll need some sort of tray or shallow box to put your paper in, rubber bands, paint, and paper. It’s also wise to have the children wear paint shirts or smocks, and you may want to consider covering anything nearby that you don’t want to get paint on.

Place the paper on the tray, and then stretch the rubber bands across the tray.  Then add a few drops of paint.  When the children snap the rubber bands the paint will splatter  and create designs on the paper (and on your table, floor, chairs, and the children). 

My students absolutely loved this activity, but honestly if I were to do it again I would do it outside!