Simply freeze water into different shapes, provide liquid watercolours or diluted food colouring, and invite little hands to paint and explore! The cold sensation, vibrant colours, and fluid movement make this an engaging and immersive process art experience.
Why is this activity beneficial?
Process Art – Encourages creativity, self-expression, and open-ended exploration.
Fine Motor Skills – Holding brushes, dripping paint, and experimenting with movement help strengthen little hands.
Sensory Exploration – The cool temperature, melting ice, and flowing colours provide a rich sensory experience.
Science in Action – Introduces concepts of temperature, states of matter, and colour mixing in a hands-on way!
Extend the Learning:
-Ask children what happens when warm water is dripped onto the ice—how does it change?
- Experiment with different colours to explore mixing and blending.
- Observe how the ice melts over time and talk about why this happens!
This process art activity is a fun and easy way to be creative, explore colour mixing, mixed media art on a hot sunny day!
Simply fill an ice cube tray with primary coloured washable tempera paint and then gently fill them to the top with water! Mix, mix, mix! Then add popsicle sticks and place them in the freezer. Then take your tuff tray outside place paper on each side and then grab your frozen paint from the freezer and place them in the middle.
Then invite children to paint and create!
Design & paint your own ice castle! This activity is a great way to get outside and be creative in a different way.
Simply fill a sandcastle mould with water and place in the freezer. Once fully frozen, run warm water over the moulds so you are able to free them from there! Place them in a tray or on your driveway and offer your child watercolour paints and a paint brush and encourage them to create their own castle.
Painted Ice Process Art Invitation
This vibrant and chilly process art activity is the perfect way to beat the summer heat while diving into colourful creativity! Children will love painting on ice blocks as the colours swirl, mix, and melt before their eyes!
Simply freeze a variety of ice cube shapes and add your favourite washable paints in primary colours. Invite children to explore with brushes or their hands, watching what happens as the paint glides across the cold surface and the ice begins to melt.
Why is this activity beneficial?
Cognitive Development: Supports colour mixing, cause-and-effect learning, and open-ended exploration.
Sensory Play: Engages the senses through cold textures, slippery surfaces, and bold colours.
Fine Motor Skills: Painting and manipulating ice builds coordination and strengthens small hand muscles.
Process Art Focus: Encourages creativity and self-expression with no pressure to produce a “finished product.”
Extend the Learning:
- Talk about primary colours and ask, “What colours can we make by mixing these together?”
- Explore melting by setting the ice in sun or shade and observe how it changes over time.
- Introduce vocabulary like “melting,” “slippery,” “blending,” and “cool” as children describe their experiences.
This is a great way to beat the heat and explore colour and painting in a new way outside!
What you need:
-Sidewalk Chalk
-Cornstarch
-Water
-Popsicle Sticks
-Ice Cube Tray
Step One: Take half a piece of sidewalk chalk and place it in a ziplock bag. Place the bag on a cutting board or solid surface and take a hammer or mallet and smash the chalk into dust!
Step Two: Pour chalk dust into the ice cube tray and measure 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water and mix! Place Popsicle sticks in your mixture.
Step Three: Place in the freezer and wait till frozen. Once completely frozen take out of the freezer and pour hot water on the back of the ice cube tray to slightly melt the paint so you can release it from the tray!
Step Four: Go outside and enjoy! Mix colours, paint different surfaces and explore!
Painting with ice is a brilliant blend of science, art, and sensory exploration. It supports curiosity, builds developmental skills, and invites early learners to cool off while staying engaged through play. Whether in a childcare setting or at home, this simple activity is a meaningful way to make summer learning magical.
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