stART - Planting a Rainbow

This week we are getting ready to welcome Spring by learning about flowers.  We read Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert.  I love this book and it is perfect for Sprout's level.  And a great book to read with older kids too as you can discuss the variety of flowers that were planted and go into depth about the parts of a plant and how plants grow.  The illustrations are perfect for this.

To go with this book, I thought it would be cute if Sprout made a flower mosaic using seeds.  Wouldn't that be a great project?!  Maybe for a different year.  This year I chose to take contact paper and draw a flower and cut it out.  I laid it in the bottom of a bowl and let Sprout pour "seeds" (yellow and green lentils and popcorn kernels) onto the contact paper to make her "mosaic."

The only problem I had now, was what to do with the flower when we were done.  I thought about backing it with construction paper.  But I didn't really like the way that looked, and I had a tough time getting it to seal due to the thickness of the lentils and popcorn.  

I decided to use another piece of contact paper and create a deal on the outer edge.  The cut the piece down to match the flower.

When were were done we use the extra for a sensory bucket (and find motor practice).  I was quite impressed that Sprout kept most of the kernels and lentils in the bowl.  And don't ask me what I was thinking by doing this on the carpet.  This isn't the room where we have out Tot Trays, but I do most of our projects in here.  Thankfully, the mess was kept to a minimum.  In fact, most of the time Sprout cleaned up after herself when she dropped stuff outside the bowl.

To see what other stART projects people did this week.  Go to A Mommy's Adventure.