Secret Crayon Resist Painting

What you need

• Paper, 3 to 4 sheets of white paper
• Crayons or markers, 1 white crayon plus a few colored ones
• Clear cups, 1 cup of water
• Paintbrush, 1 per child
• Washable paint, a little, watered down, or a watercolor set
• Small dish, 1, for the paint
• Newspaper, a few sheets, or a wipe-clean cloth

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Cover the table with newspaper or a wipe-clean cloth and set out everything within easy reach.

1. Pick up the white crayon and a sheet of white paper.
2. Draw a secret picture or message with the white crayon.
3. Look closely. Can you still see your drawing?
   Ask: What do you think will happen when we paint over it?
4. Dip your brush in the watery paint.
5. Paint over the whole page and watch the magic.
   Ask: Where is the paint sliding away? What is showing up?
6. Draw again with colored crayons, then paint dark paint over them.
7. Make a secret message for someone else to reveal.
8. Now hang up your art, or make more! What secret will you hide next?
   Ask: Who could you surprise with a secret painting, and what would it say?

Play it again

• Treasure map: draw a hidden map with white crayon, then paint to find where the treasure is.
• Guess the picture: one person draws secretly, another paints to reveal it and guesses what it is.
• Rainbow reveal: use many colored crayons and paint over with one dark color to see them glow.