Ideas From the Field...

Small-Group Activity

(posted November 2012)

Title: Magic Squish Bags

Children explore colors they can make with paint that is placed in reclosable plastic bags (“squish bags”).

Originating idea: Some of my children wanted to explore paint (you could see it in their eyes!), but avoided it at all cost, because it was either a sensory overload or too messy. I had used reclosable plastic bags for another activity — exploring the insides of a pumpkin, which children did not like to touch with their hands. The bags allowed all the children to fearlessly explore the pumpkin’s string pulp, and some gained enough confidence to open up their bags and explore further. I decided to try this same strategy for paint. This activity employs all the sensory benefits of finger painting and gives children a chance to be confident and comfortable with the material.

Key developmental indicators (KDIs):

45. Science and Technology — Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.

49. Science and Technology — Drawing conclusions: Children draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations.

22. Language, Literacy, and Communication — Speaking: Children express themselves using language.

Beginning (how you introduce the activity):

• Introduce the activity by relating it to something you have observed in the classroom. I began this activity by saying, “The other day, I noticed that some of you wanted to explore finger painting with Angelina and David but stopped because you didn't want to get messy. I was thinking of you and put some paint colors in bags, so we can explore them. You won't get messy, and the paint can stay in the bag if you'd like it to.”
• Ask the children to put on their smocks, and then give each child a squish bag and a piece of paper.
• Say “I wonder if you'll notice anything magical about these squish bags."

Middle (how you support and extend each child’s learning):

• Observe how the children are using the squish bags, and listen to what they are saying.
• Imitate children’s actions with your squish bag, repeat their comments, and ask open-ended questions as appropriate. You might say, for example, “I noticed that when you started, you had two colors and now you have one color. Where did the other color go?”
• If children open up their squish bags, encourage them to use the white paper as their canvas.
• Offer children other squish bags (with other colors).

End (how you end the activity and transition to the next part of the routine):

• Tell the children they have 5 more minutes to explore their squish bags.
• After 5 minutes, ask the children to place their squish bags in a pile or put them in their cubbies to take home. One child wanted to hang his squish bag on the window, creating a sun catcher “like Mommy's at home,” so I gave him tape so he could display it on the window in a place of his choosing. (This caused several other children to follow suit, using tape to secure their “sun catchers” to the window.)
• To transition to the next part of the daily routine, play a color game. For example, hold up a color, and say "If this is the color that you made, say something that is the same color and then get your coat for outside time." Repeat until all the children have transitioned.

Ideas for follow-up or related activities: 

• Put primary-color squish bags in the art area so children can use them during work time.
• Use plastic bags to squish different items, such as Cheerios, a cracker, and a grape, and then compare the results.

Author: Sherri Cross, Classroom Teacher, Almond Road Preschool, Vineland, New Jersey

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