- 10 - 15 mins
- Creative expression, fine motor, nature appreciation and exploration
- Minimal mess
Painting is a common preschool activity, there are lots of types and ways to engage in art and painting experiences, but have you ever painted using just rocks and water?
Making your own rock paint is so quick and easy. All you really need is some sandstone, and some water and away you go. It is a fun way for children to explore, experiment and engage with natural items; to explore different ways of painting, and a wonderful way to engage with a traditional Indigenous art experience.
It’s a simple, yet effective experience that your children will love to engage with!
What you will need
- 2 x sandstone rocks
- Water
- Paint brush
- Container for mixing
- Paper
Activity steps
- Rub two pieces of sandstone together until you get a decent amount of coloured dust. This dust is called Ochre.
- Now add a few drops of water to the orche and mix together using your finger or a paintbrush.
- Continue to add small amounts of water to the orche until the powder has formed into a paste. The thicker the paste the bolder the colour will be.
- Now create and paint on your paper using your very own orche paint.
Variations:
- Try using a variety of sandstone- do you get the same colours or different?
- Try different mediums to paint on. For example, rocks, sticks, cardboard or even your skin! Does it have the same effect?
Learning Objectives
- Creative expression
- Nature exploration and appreciation
- Nature appreciation
- Fine motor
- Hand-eye coordination
- Experimentation
Reference sites
We would like to acknowledge these amazing sites that have inspired us to create this activity. Thank you!