I don’t know what it is about turtles but I just love them and I am always trying to think of new ways to make them so they are a little less craftsy and a little more artsy….
This turned out to be a fun way to make turtle prints to go along with the book – “The Foolish Tortoise” by Eric Carle. Start by cutting out “shell” shapes or ovals from a piece of Styrofoam. I saved my pieces of Styrofoam from packages of meat and then washed them good with soap and hot water…
Older preschoolers can use a toothpick to carve lines or circle-shapes into the Styrofoam – younger preschoolers may need a little assistance to do the carving or can press the shapes into the Styrofoam with a small cookie cutter…
Next, roll some paint over the lines made into the Styrofoam…
Then flip the Styrofoam, paint side down, onto a sheet of paper and rub it. Now lift and you have a turtle shell print…
Provide several pieces of Styrofoam and different paint colors so that the children can explore making a variety of turtle shell prints…
Here is one with the more rounded prints…
Crayons can also be supplied so the children can add arm, legs, and a head if desired. I liked the shells without anything but here is a sample both ways…
Yes, even a preschooler can draw better than me 🙂
More Turtle Links…
Fingerprint Turtles from GummyLump
Paper Bowl Turtle from Play and Learn with Dana and Gummy Lump
Recycled Sea Turtles from We Heart Art
Rock Turtles from Preschool Daze
Cake Pan Turtles from The Artful Parent
Torn Paper Turtles from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman