Salt Painting

What You Need:

• Construction paper
• Crayons
• Paintbrushes
• 4 tablespoons Epsom salt
• ¼ cup (60 ml) hot water
• Small cups or bowls
• Spoons
• Covered table

What You Do:

1. Mix one-quarter cup hot water with four tablespoons of Epsom salt. Stir the mixture to dissolve.
2. Have your child draw freely with the crayons on the construction paper.
3. Let her brush the drawing with the salt mixture. Stir the salt water each time a brush is dipped into the container to keep the brush full of very salty water.
4. Ask your child why she thinks the salty water creates such an usual effect when painted over his crayon picture.
5. Give the painting time to dry completely.
6. Explain to your kid that as the painting dries, the water will evaporate leaving the salt and producing a bumpy looking texture after the crayon and salt mingle.

Now brush the salt crystals off the paper, and hang it up!