Materials:

• sheets of corrugated cardboard
• tempera paint
• plastic paint containers
• paintbrushes (varied sizes)

Objective: Children will develop creative-thinking skills as they explore the texture of corrugated cardboard.

In Advance: If you do not have access to pre-cut corrugated paper, you can collect cardboard boxes. Cut the boxes into square or rectangular sections. Prepare a variety of paint colors in plastic containers. Obtain paintbrushes in many sizes.

ACTIVITY

1 During meeting time, show the group a piece of corrugated cardboard. Pass the cardboard around for the children to feel. Why do they think that the paper is heavy? What is used to make it thick? What is cardboard used for?

2 Tear away the top surface of paper to reveal the corrugated surface. Encourage the children to feel and describe the surface. Ask: How does this cardboard differ from cereal box cardboard, or the kind of cardboard used for paper dolls? Write the word corrugated on chart paper. Ask the children to think about and describe what the word may mean.

3 Give each child a sheet of cardboard. Ask the children to peel away the top layer of paper to reveal the corrugated paper. (Some children may need your help.) To create a varied-texture surface, children can peel away sections of the top layer and leave some smooth surface.

4 Bring out the paintbrushes and invite the chil- , dren to paint their cardboard. Encourage them to turn the cardboard around to vary the direction of the corrugated texture. What happens when they paint lengthwise or crosswise? How do the different paintbrushes affect the surface? Does it make a difference if the paint is thin and runny or thick and goopy?

5 Children can share their finished projects during meeting time. Choose an area of the classroom to exhibit their work.

Curriculum Connection

Writing: Children can make a book about different types of papers. Ask the children to collect several kinds of paper from home and bring them in. Invite them look through the classroom for different paper types as well. Divide children into small groups. Give each group a variety of paper and ask the children to choose several sheets of paper that are different. Bind each group's choices to make a book. Encourage the children to think of words that describe each page. After the groups make a cover page and title for their books, they can share them during group time.