Wet and Dry Stones
What you need
- a cup of water
- a paintbrush
- a few big stones gathered in a bucket
How to do it
- Set the stones out in a row in a sunny spot on the path or the step.
- Paint one side of each stone with water. What happens to the colour?
- Look closely together: are there sparkles, stripes or spots that only show when it's wet?
- Watch the wet patches shrink as they dry, and paint a face or a pattern on before they vanish.
Why it matters
Under the brush a dull grey stone turns deep-coloured and shiny, then quietly fades back as the sun dries it.
What they're learning
- Looking closely
- Stripes and sparkles that show when wet.
- Painting with water
- Brush strokes that fade away.
- Waiting and watching
- Which patch is drying first?
What to look for
Notice them painting a stone again to bring the shiny colour back.
A tip
Pick stones too big to fit through a toilet roll tube, and put them back where you found them when you finish.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: dip a whole stone in the cup and lift it out to look
Harder: guess which stone will dry first and stand guard beside it to check
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Sensory activities · Toddler activities with cups · Toddler water activities