Potato Print Paper
What you need
- a big potato, or any firm veg, cut in half
- a star biscuit cutter
- paint on a paper plate
- a big sheet of brown paper
How to do it
- Lay the brown paper flat and show your child the potato star.
- Press the star into the paint, then onto the paper, and lift it off to see the print.
- Let them print stars all over the paper, as close together or as far apart as they like.
- Try a second colour, or turn the potato a little each time to make spinning stars.
- When it is dry, use it to wrap a present together.
Why it matters
Pressing and lifting to make a print takes a firm, careful hand, and wrapping a present in paper they made makes it really theirs.
What they're learning
- Pressing and lifting
- A firm press and a straight lift makes a clear print.
- Patterns
- Rows of stars, close or far apart, are patterns they can choose.
- Making something useful
- Paper they printed becomes real wrapping paper.
What to look for
Watch for them pressing harder or lighter to see what changes in the print.
A tip
Do the cutting yourself, away from your child, and put the knife away before they join you.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: print with a plain cut potato half, no shape needed
Harder: print a pattern along a line: star, gap, star, gap
