This art lesson is about creating rice paper with materials you find at home and also from beach combing or collecting mementos from holidays. Its easy to do, and can be used to teach division, multiplication and measurement skills. Of course, summer art projects can be done any time of the year!
Summer art projects that are easy, require few materials and can be done at a cabin or beach house are the best kind! This easy art project will be a way for kids of all ages to create beautiful rice paper from beach combing finds such as seashells, feathers, moss, or even fish scales. Parents can use it to teach about fractions, division, multiplication, measurement and even some science. Using a few materials gathered from a beach, a simple procedure and a little math, kids will enjoy this summer time art project to create rice paper.
Materials
Wax paper (or if unavailable, plastic wrap), white glue, tissues (or tissue paper), paintbrush, ruler, pencil, scissors, beach combing materials such as small tiny seashells, feathers, sand, scales, small flowers, leaves, flower petals, pine cones etc., pail to collect materials.
Step 1: Go beach combing to collect materials
Summer art projects are a terrific reason to spend time gathering small tiny spiral seashells, small rocks, fine sand, feathers, pine cones, tiny flowers such as lobelia or other light yet interesting objects as mementos of your vacation. Take your time to examine them. Take all day to collect them. Parents could spend time explaining the names of leaves or flowers. Store in a Ziplock bag, beach pail, or envelope.
Step 2: Prepare wax paper
Find a work surface such as a wooden table or plastic covered desk. Cut a long sheet of wax paper, 24 inches long, or whatever size desired. Use the ruler to measure the paper once it is torn from the roll. Measure and mark (on both the left and right sides of the paper) 4 equal sections, 6 inches long, where the paper will later be folded or cut. Draw a light line on the wax paper with the pencil.
Find other material to add to the rice paper such as glitter, sequins or flat leaves if desired. Place all items on wax paper in a random pattern. Try to place one equal amounts of materials in each section. Have your child divide all collected materials into 4 equal piles. Ask them to multiply an amount by 4 to see if they have enough to cover all sections equally.