Sponge art transformations

From youcubed

Collect resources

You will need:

• scissors​

• sponges to cut up​

• 3 different coloured paints

• 3 bowls (or containers to put the paint in)

• 2 sheets of paper per sponge shape.

What to do

• Ask an adult for some help to cut up some sponges and to put some different coloured paints in bowls.

• Let's make some wrapping paper!

• Use one of your sponges to print shapes on your paper.

  • Try sliding, turning and flipping your sponge to see if you can make some new shapes. Remember when flipping you’ll need to paint your sponge on both sides to create a print.

Discuss/reflect

After you have created your wrapping paper choose some of the following questions to explore:

• What shapes can you make when you turn your sponge?

  • Think about, what shapes do you print when you turn your sponge just a little bit? What shapes do you print when you turn your sponge more?

• Will turning your sponge clockwise or anti-clockwise make a difference to your print?

• Describe what you print when you flip your sponge.

Let's investigate further

• Investigate how moving your sponge in different directions using quarter, half and full turns changes the print on the paper.

• Which movement (slide, turn or flip) made the most number of shapes?

• Help Penny investigate what shapes she can’t make from printing with her sponge?

• Design a symmetrical wrapping paper using slide, turn and flip movements?

  • Try designing a wrapping paper that has more than one line of symmetry?