Painting gears is one of those super fun and engaging art projects with kids! It’s a novel art experience perfect for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students.
The children get to fully immerse themselves in process art as they’re making art with gears. Plus, they have the chance to practice problem-solving, fine motor skills, and various math concepts along the way. This gear art project definitely encourages outside of the box thinking, too!
I think this painting with gears activity would be great as part of your next robot or construction theme. Of course, you can easily incorporate the gear art into your plans any time of year.
This is one of those art ideas that came about very randomly during a discussion with a few of my preschoolers. I’m not even entirely sure where we started. But soon enough we were at the, “I wonder what it would be like to paint with our gears?” point.
And I’m so happy I ran with it! The children were so enthusiastic about the painting project. What a fun way to encourage creativity and taking chances, right?
Painting Gears
The group of students I tried this with first LOVED building and creating in so many ways. The toy gears were often a favorite. They were also very used to “creative license” when it came to their art projects.
If your students are excited about new creative endeavors, they’re going to have a blast with the painting gears art project. Read below for what we used and some tips for all the painting fun.
How to Prep for Painting with Gears
Start off by grabbing the supplies you need for the art project. Here’s what we used (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Toy gears – 1 of each color
- Paintbrushes
- Poster putty
- Tempera paint – to match each gear color
- White construction paper
Once you’ve gathered everything you need, you’re almost ready to go! Just a few more steps before the painting gears party can start:
- First, use poster putty to attach the ends of the paintbrushes to the gears.
- Next, pour some paint into bowls or onto shallow trays.
- Then, place the gear “paintbrushes” next to their corresponding paints, with the construction paper nearby
Now you’re ready to get the kids involved.
Painting Gears Art Project for Preschoolers
If your students are anything like mine, you’ll have an audience as you set up for the gear painting art. I love when the children get excited about new art experiences, what about you?
I recommend allowing the children to lead this gear-themed art activity. When I’ve tried it with the kids, I haven’t given any specific directions. I just reviewed the art center expectations and let them get into it.
You’ll likely see a variety of creations from your students. Since this is an open-ended process art activity, the kids can create as they see fit (within your basic parameters, of course). Here are some things I observed in my classroom:
- One child was very particular about where she placed her painted gears on the paper.
- A few others enjoyed painting with all of the colors all over the paper.
- Some were more focused on just one or two colors, stamping the gears over and over.
- A few of the kids twirled the gears around to paint, but not as many as I expected!
- One or two children decided they’d rather use the paintbrushes attached to the gears, occasionally flipping them over to stamp with the gears.
Oh, and some of the children had specific outcomes in mind. One was so excited to create a letter using the gears. It was near my birthday, so she painted an M for my first name. I was so tickled to be thought of that way!
Another kiddo wanted to make a rainbow of gears, since the gear paintbrushes were rainbow colors. Watching that come to fruition was a blast!
Be sure to save this painting gears ideas for future reference. If you have an Arts and Crafts for Kids Pinterest board, that’s a great place to start.
Why Should I Let Kids Try This Gear Painting Process Art?
To start off, it’s so much fun! And I think having fun is a great reason to try something with the kids. In addition to that, preschool art projects like this one allow children to touch on a variety of important skills.
Remember, young children learn through playing and creating and exploring! Â Below are some items my students worked on while painting with gears:
- Fine motor skills
- Colors
- Patterns
- Creativity
- Language skills
- Letter formation
- Cause and effect
That’s not an exhaustive list, but the skills that came to mind first as I wrote this up for you.
More Unique and Fun Art Ideas for Kids
If your students enjoyed this painting gears project, I bet they’ll enjoy these ideas, too:
- Catapult Art
- Painting on Mirrors Process Art
- Snow Painting with Water Balloons
- Squirt Gun Painting
- Splat Art
- Rainbow Tree Branch
- Car Painting for Kids
Do you have any super fun art ideas that your students love?
Lesson Plans Ready to Go
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Click on the images below to learn more about some of our products that could incorporate gears:
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Originally published February 2014.
Emma says
I love finding unique things to paint with and gears is one I haven’t heard of. I’m surprised more kids didn’t use the twirl method – that’s the first way I thought of. And so sweet of that little girl to make a letter for you with the gears – she must have been so proud!
Mary Catherine says
Yes, Emma, I thought the swirling method would be something they’d try right away! I just love watching as they explore things like this. And, yes, my little girl who created the M was soooooo proud of it. 🙂 Thanks for the kind words!
Samantha @ Stir the Wonder says
Great idea to stick the ends of the paint brushed in the gears! When we did this my son wasn’t too fond of getting paint on his fingers and therefore didn’t paint very long! I think we will have to try it again using your idea!
Mary Catherine says
Thanks, Samantha! I am a messy person, myself, so I knew I would make a mess if it didn’t have the paintbrushes attached. I think it added a different dimension to it for the kids, especially those who didn’t want to just paint using the gears. Let me know if you and your son try it out anytime soon! 🙂
Cindy says
where did you get the gears, please?
Mary Catherine says
Hi Cindy! We have the gears on-hand in our school workroom. I’ve seen them at local toy stores, chain stores, and teacher resource stores.
They can also be purchased through Amazon and those are linked in the post. 🙂
Goitseone Dikeme says
They are nice but where can i find gear toys in Botswana
Mary Catherine says
Honestly, I’m unsure as to where you can find these beads near Botswana. Do you order via Amazon? If so, the links above should work for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help, but perhaps some of my other readers will be able to point us both in the right direction! Additionally, perhaps just checking local stores or find some other items that you’re comfortable using with the kiddos as different painting tools. Thanks so much for popping by!
Karen says
Hi I work in a pre-school and nursery this has given me an idea for the children to print spring flowers thanks for your amazing blogs keep them coming we all love them.
Karen Jones
Chester England
MKS says
With my class of 4s and 5s I do a lot with tissue paper. I color glue (water it down some), provide paint brushes, and scraps of white tissue paper and allow them to create.
Mary Catherine says
Love that!
Elena Wiggins says
What a fun process art idea! I love finding random objects for the kids to paint with. When learning about birds recently, we painted with craft bird feathers and it definitely felt different than paintbrushes!
Hopping over from My Wee Abode’s link-up!
Mary Catherine says
Thanks for the kind words, Elena! YES, I love finding new materials for the kids to create with. This painting gears art project has been a blast every time we’ve tried it!