Painting with jello is a super simple idea to add to your multisensory process art projects with kids. You only need two ingredients and it’s very low-prep! So you can have this art idea set up in no time.
Your students get to take the creative lead during the jello painting art. This allows the kids to practice those important decision-making and problem-solving skills as they paint.
In addition, the jello paint project encourages sensory exploration. As we all know, young children learn so much as they explore the world through their senses. Science, literacy, and motor skills are also being processed as the kids create.
Ever since Engineer and I experimented with our Multi-Sensory Colorful Explosions, he’s been dying to break out the Jell-O powder again. We’ve messed around with different variations of that experiment, but he wanted to come up with something new to do. One day when Girly-Girl was over, I suggested using the gelatin powder to paint . . . a multi-sensory process art experiment, if you will. Always willing to try something new (and messy), they were all for it!
So I mixed some cherry Jell-O powder with a bit of water, set out some paint brushes and construction paper, and let them get into it! Oh, who am I kidding? I totally got into it too. How could I not? It looked like a lot of fun!
The whole point of this was more about the experience than the end result. While I enjoy cutesy crafts and focused art projects, I loooooove to watch kiddos just get into the process of art. It’s just fun to sit back and watch them go all out with the materials. The way they delve into it in their own individual ways is always a kick in the pants.
Related: “Quick as a Cricket” Art
Engineer and Girly Girl started out simply enough, using the paint brushes to make different lines and patterns on their paper. As they began, they commented on the scent of our “paint” . . .
- “Wow! This stuff smells yummy!”
- “Oooh, I bet it tastes good too. But can we eat the paint?”
- “It smells kind of like berries. I don’t know what kind. But I know I like it!”
I thought it smelled delicious too, and I’m actually surprised neither of them tried a quick taste!
After painting for a bit with the brushes, Engineer tried his hand at print-making. He painted on a piece of construction paper, then placed a clean sheet down on top of it and pressed. He was delighted at how well this worked, so he made about 4 or 5 prints.
After that, it became a full-body painting experience. They dunked their hands right into the gelatin-water mixture and made a variety of hand print paintings. Honestly, it looked like something out of a horror movie . . . with “bloody” hand prints all over the construction paper! Next time, I’m going to try a few different colors/flavors instead of just red/cherry.
As they used their hands and fingers to paint, I had a great time listening to more of their observations . . .
- “It feels kind of sandy. There isn’t any sand in there, though. Is it ’cause the powder’s still there? Didn’t it mix with the water all the way?”
- “Hey, my dry painting stills smells good!”
- “It looks like the paint has little bumps on it.”
- “Ahhh! I’m bleeding!” (Yes, you guessed it . . . that was one of Engineer’s comments.)
All in all, I think this was a fun art experiment. The kiddos used most of their senses to explore the paint — sight, touch, and smell. They would’ve been fine to taste it as well, but they didn’t. I got many giggles out of watching and participating, and the kids had a blast! We’ll definitely be painting with Jell-O again! Would you be up for trying this out with your children? If you do, I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments section below.
Simple Art Materials for Kids
Now that you’ve got several painting project ideas in your back pocket, make sure that you’re all stocked up on some useful art supplies.
Here are a few of the materials you might use for preschool art projects (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Liquid watercolors
- Coffee filters
- Washi tape
- Dot markers
- Contact paper
- Construction paper
- Washable tempera paint
Done-for-You Preschool Resources
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Check out some of these great resources from Preschool Teacher 101! We have everything you’ll need to plan a year full of fun and learning. Click on the images below to learn more.
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heidi says
What an awesome use of jello! I like the comments about it smelling good. Hope you have a great day!
Mary Catherine says
Thanks so much, Heidi! It was definitely a bright red, and everything smelled delicious. 🙂
Blayne says
This is so much fun! I love that the jell-o changes the texture. The color is so vibrant too! 🙂
Mary Catherine says
Thanks, Blayne! I think the texture and the scent is what fascinated the kids the most. They started out trying to paint lines, then just dug in with their hands . . . swirling everything around and exploring the texture. 🙂
nothingbythebook says
Well, guess what my little dude and I will do doing today? Thank you for the inspiration. (visting from MTMMixer–it’s still Friday somewhere, I’m sure!–nice to meet you.)
Mary Catherine says
Let me know how it goes with your son — I always love hearing how other kids respond to the ideas I share here. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Allison says
I love this multisensory painting – I bet it smelled delicious! I will be featuring it this weekend on The Sunday Showcase.
Mary Catherine says
Yes, the paintings smelled yummy even after they dried, and the kids liked the different texture when they were dry too. I am so excited to be featured on The Sunday Showcase! Thanks so much, Allison! 🙂
Melissa says
Love your blog!
Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says
that craft smelled so good I’m sure. what a mess though LOL
thanks for linking this too 🙂
Jessica says
It’s too bad that you see your son’s potential to be an Engineer, but your daughter is merely ‘girly girl’, as if there is nothing more to her than the fact that she is a girl..
Mary Catherine says
If you were to read more of my posts, you would know that (a) Girly Girl is NOT my daughter (she’s a child I used to babysit); (b) I chose that simple nickname for her based on something she’d told me ages ago; and (c) I FULLY believe in the potential of both boys and girls across all subject areas. I notice you focus on her nickname for the blog (which I do out of respect for her and her family), rather than all of the experiences she’s had in my care.