Paint a Morning, Noon, and Night Triptych

What You Need:

• Large poster board or three-paneled science fair display board
• Marker
• Tempera paints
• Paint brushes
• Sponges and/or rollers

What You Do:

1. Brainstorm ideas for each panel with your child. Ask them to tell you what happens in the morning, the afternoon, and night time. Examples of discussion starter questions include: What do you do when you wake up? What do you eat in the morning? What happens in the afternoon (at preschool, the park, and so on)? What do you wear at night?
2. If you are using a large piece of poster board, fold the board into three equal panels. If you are using a science fair display board, it will come pre-folded.
3. Ask your child what part of the day comes first. Then ask which panel should show this part of the day (the first panel).
4. Have your child draw a scene or picture that represents the morning on the first panel. Use the markers to make an outline. This picture may be something simple such as the sun rising, or something more complex such as eating breakfast.
5. Move on to the middle panel, and ask your child to draw something representing the afternoon.
6. Repeat for the last panel, focusing on night time.
7. After the marker outline has been finished for all three parts, invite your child to add paint to their creation.

Extensions:

Extend this narrative picture by creating your own story. Ask your child to tell you a story based on the sequence of events pictured on the triptych. Make sure to reinforce that there is a beginning, middle, and end to their story like in a book.

You can also use your child's favorite book as inspiration for a triptych. Simply have them choose and draw their three favorite moments in the book in order. When they are finished, they will have a beautiful triptych of their favorite scenes to hang on their wall.