Create Aboriginal stick paintings

Paint and noise – does it get any better for kids? Take a wander down to the park to collect some sticks, then enjoy a historical art lesson, and later, a musical concert with this crafty activity. 

What you need:

• Assortment of sticks
• White acrylic paint
• A few earth-coloured paints
• Paintbrushes
• Egg carton or various pots to hold the paint

Number of players:

Activity:

Step 1: Squirt white paint into the egg carton and add the colours you wish to use.

Step 2: Mix the paints and keep adding colour until you’re happy with it.

Step 3: Insert a paintbrush in each colour so they don’t mix too soon (it’s really unavoidable!)

Step 4: Start painting the sticks. Encourage the kids to draw dots and lines as much as possible to create authentic Aboriginal-painted sticks.

Step 5: Once dry, some more dots can be applied over the colour to layer it up a little.

Step 6: Send them outside to make music with their sticks!

This craft was created by Belinda Graham, who blogs at The Happy Home Blog.