This week at school we have a special field trip planned- we’re going to a real working farm! Naturally I wanted to plan explorations in the classroom that would tie in with the excitement of our farm visit, and I thought I’d show you one of the most simple ones today- painting with “straw” brushes at the easel. Seriously, this couldn’t be much easier to put together- my parent helper and I literally made the brushes on the spot.
To make your own “straw” paintbrushes, you’ll need to gather some raffia (hence the parentheses around “straw”), pipe cleaners, and a pair of scissors. Cut off a chunk of raffia twice as long as you want your brush to be. I used raffia because it is readily available at craft stores and more flexible than actual straw or hay.
Bend your raffia in half and pinch. Ignore the painty hands of a deranged preschool teacher.
Twist a pipe cleaner around the middle of your bunch.
Now, trim the ends of your pipe cleaner and your brush if you desire.
And there you go! A “straw” paint brush ready for action at the easel.
If you are looking for more farm-themed activities, here are the others in our collection:
