Dancing Alphabet

crayola supplies

Washable Watercolors
So Big® Brush
Giant Marker and Watercolor Pad

household supplies

recycled newspaper
sponges
paper towels
container(s) of water

Why

Delicate ABCs dance across the page! Watch the dancing alphabet spread when you use wet watercolors on wet paper.

Steps

1. Make the alphabet dance! Cover your art area with newspaper. Wet a large piece of heavy white paper with a clean, damp sponge.
2. Drip several drops of water from a clean Crayola® So Big® Brush into each Crayola Washable Watercolors paint pan. They'll be colorful puddles!
3. Dip the brush into a paint pan. Paint an alphabet letter on your wet paper. Watch the colors "grow" as they feather or bleed (spread out) into the wet paper.
4. Swirl your brush in clear water. Dip it into a different color and paint another letter on the wet paper.
5. Repeat, adding as many letters as you like to your painting. The colors will bleed and blend! Air dry on a flat surface.

When & Where

"What a fun way to learn the alphabet. We started with our names. We'll do more of these with numbers later."
- Grear W., mother of 4- and 6-year-olds.

"We made Feathery Letter paintings on the porch. Even our toddlers loved to see their marks spread on the paper!"
- Jana H., family child care provider.

Interesting Info

The modern Western alphabet has its roots in a symbol system developed by the Phoenicians, whose alphabet had 22 signs. The Phoenicians were known as great sailors. After 1000 BCE, their writing began to spread in all directions on Phoenician sailing vessels.

Safety Guidelines

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Sponges and Foam—Sponges, foam, and other expandable materials should not be used with children 3 years old and younger.