One Colour Painting

What you need

• one pot of washable paint
• a big sheet of paper
• a chunky paintbrush
• a plate

How to do it

1. Lay a big sheet of paper on the table or floor.
2. Pour a little of one colour onto a plate and name it: 'yellow'.
3. Let them brush, dab and smear yellow all over the page.
4. Say 'yellow' as it goes on, and 'more yellow' when they want more.

Why it matters

With only one colour out, every brushstroke is the same word, and they get to hear it a lot.

What they're learning

Colour words

One colour, said again and again, right next to the marks they are making.

Brush grip

Holding a chunky brush and dragging it across paper works the whole hand and wrist.

Making marks

Seeing their own strokes appear is its own reason to keep going.

What to look for

Notice them saying the colour, or something close to it, when they ask for more paint.

A tip

Yellow or blue show up well and wash out easily; keep red for another day.

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