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    Home » Painting Activities

    Modified: Apr 13, 2022 · Published: Sep 23, 2011 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    Marvelous Marble Painting

    4757 shares
    • 44

    This Marvelous Marble Painting activity is one that I used back in my teaching days. I have never done it with three year olds but decided my kids might find this art project fun. Would you believe I had the hardest time finding the marbles?  I thought for sure the dollar store would have them, but they did not. So if you already have marbles at home, you are ahead of the game! Also check out our Painting with Feathers activity.

    Marble Painting - fun art activity for preschoolers. My kids loved doing this fun kids craft.

    If your kids enjoy this activity and you're eager to find something just as exciting, don't miss out on these Circle Art Ideas.

    paint, paper in a tray and marbles

    Marble Painting

    You will need:

    • Baking pan 
    • Paint
    • White paper cut to fit inside the pan
    • Tape
    • Marbles

    You will want to tape your paper to the bottom of the pan.  I am sure there are many different ways to paint with the marbles, but here is what I did. Be sure to check out Painting with Golf Balls as well.  I squirted different colors of paint onto the paper and dropped in some marbles (I believe I used 4 in each tray).  It would be fun at another point to experiment with the number of marbles in a tray and see how it changes the results of the marble painting.

    paint on paper in a tray

    "A" wanted yellow and blue paint on  her tray.

    Marble Painting

    Once your marbles are dropped in, have your child rock the tray back and forth to get the marbles to move and paint the paper.

    Marble Painting

    Later, A discovered that she could tilt the tray up and down to get lines going in different directions on her paper.

    Marble Painting

    I love this action shot of B.  Who knew this marble painting activity provided such a workout?

    child marble painting

    A really wanted to work with green paint.  I did not have any out, but explained that we could make green by mixing yellow and blue.  And just like that we are learning about color mixing.  Thanks for the great idea A!  I dropped some yellow and blue paint on her paper and gave her some marbles.

    Marble Painting

    She was quite proud of the resulting green!

    Marble Painting

    Our finished marble painting:

    Marble Painting

    My final verdict is that this marvelous marble painting was just perfect for three year olds and might even work with two year olds.  But you know your child best. I did not have C participate, because at 20 months, she still puts everything in her mouth and I was concerned that the marbles would be a choking hazard.  Please use caution when doing this art activity with a child.

    The girls loved discovering a new way to paint and I'm just thankful that I didn't lose my marbles.

    More Painting Activities

    • Drip Painted Flower Pots
    • Earth Day Activity
    • Q-Tip Painted Snowman Craft
    • Watercolor Painted Seashells
      Watercolor Painted Seashells

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    1. fix wix services in dubai says

      July 23, 2018 at 9:48 am

      i am like your comments

      Reply
    2. Alyssa says

      May 16, 2017 at 2:23 pm

      What a fun activity. I am featuring this in an art party roundup if you don't mind.

      Reply
    3. 車買取 says

      February 13, 2012 at 5:17 am

      Thank you for sharing such a great information.

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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