How an Art Project Turned into so Much More

I mentioned that the Fizzing Shamrock Art lead to more fun during the clean up.  Well, it actually led to two very different activities, which ended up keeping the boys entertained for almost an hour.  The two activities were:

1. A science experiment
2. A sensory, prewriting activity

The predictable baking soda + vinegar science experiment

The Science Experiment

We all know how cool it is to mix baking soda and vinegar.  To small children, it seems even more wondrous, especially when you add some color to it.

So after the art project, we were left with this:

Leftover green paint mixed with
baking soda and a bottle of vinegar

I had put the container with the paint mixture inside a deep, glass dish to contain all the mess that would be occurring shortly.  You know, this:

Erupting paint mixture!

J wanted to do it some more.  I colored the vinegar green (as per J's request) and put a spoonful of baking soda in the glass dish.  J wanted me to leave the spoon so he could stir it up.

 

Then K climbed onto the table to partake in the fun.

The science experiment ended when J started dragging the bottle along the bottom of the dish, trying to write letters with the bottle.

The Prewriting Activity

At the bottom of the dish, there was a delightfully goopy mess.  J started to swirl his fingers around in the mixture.  Then he started writing out some names, starting with his own.  I would never have predicted that this art project would have turned into a great sensory and prewriting activity, but it did!  And it was all thanks to J's creative little mind.

Writing in the residue

Have you done an art project that turned into something completely different afterwards?  Tell me about it in the comments.

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