ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Source: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Learn about the unique properties of salt as you make paintings using this household item!

Materials

• PVA school glue or craft glue
• Salt
• Food colouring of your choice
• Water
• White card-stock or watercolor paper
• Template for the shapes you’ll be painting

Directions

• Trace your template onto cardstock.
• Add glue to outline your shapes. Then add a good amount of salt onto the glue and carefully pour the excess off.
• Let the glue (and salt) dry.
• Mix a few tablespoons of water with your choice of food colouring to make your watercolour paint. Use a pipette to slowly drip the watercolour mixture onto the salt. Try not to drench the patterns but rather watch the salt soak up one droplet of colur at a time.
• Leave your salt painting to dry overnight, then display it in your home.

Spark Creative Learning!

•  Notice how the water is absorbed and slowly moves throughout the pattern. You can even add drops of different colours and see what happens!
• Salt is a really useful product that has the ability to absorb moisture from its environment. Its ability to absorb water is what makes salt a good preservative. This property of absorption is called hygroscopy. Hygroscopic materials absorb both liquid water (the watercolour paint mixture) and water vapour in the air, creating a dehydrating effect.