Share with your students the concept of a mural and then equip them with a large piece of paper or posterboard to serve as their canvas. Without discussing a theme or any specific subject, give your students free reign to create a one-of-a-kind mural of their own. Give your students the option to use either fingerpaint or watercolor paints and an assortment of brushes; these paints blend easily and are ideal for working on open-ended, abstract murals. Create a display in your classroom when the paintings are dry to show all their creations.
One of the most exciting discoveries of creating art with paint is learning that two or more colors combine to make a new one. Share some typical combinations with your students such as red and yellow make orange and then encourage them to make some combinations on their own. Explain that they can alter the intensity of their color by adding white or a drop of water. Watercolor or tempura paints are best to blend colors.
Typically, painting is done with brushes or even fingers, producing well-known results. Encourage your students to try working with different tools. Have them apply paint with cotton balls or cotton swabs, for example, allowing them to create some interesting strokes. Try other unusual tools for paint application such as makeup brushes or feathers. Rev up your preschoolers' interest in paint using toy cars to create colorful tire track patterns.
Patterns and sequences are two important concepts for preschoolers to learn in preparation for early math skills. Having children paint with sponges can give them a natural introduction to these ideas. Complete one painting together as a class using sponges cut out in various shapes. After demonstrating how to create a pattern, encourage the children to use the sponges to create their own designs.