Art projects are a wonderful way to combine creativity, learning, and hands-on fun. This sensory art activity invites your preschooler to create an original piece of art that is also a tactile sensory experience. Best of all, it’s simple to set up with household items and doubles as an engaging vocabulary-building exercise.
Materials you’ll need
- A 12x12 piece of cardboard or poster board
- Ruler and pencil
- Paintbrush
- Glue sticks and school glue
- A variety of household materials cut into 1-inch squares:
- Different fabrics (silky, fuzzy, rough)
- Different types of paper
- Bubble wrap
- Aluminum foil
- Carpet scraps
- Sandpaper in different grits
- Loose materials to glue down:
- Glitter
- Sand
- Uncooked rice
- Beans
- Tiny beads
- Raw oats
Step 1: Prepare the mosaic board
Use the ruler and pencil to divide your cardboard or poster board into 1-inch squares. This creates a grid for your child to work on.
Step 2: Explore the materials
Let your child touch, compare, and talk about the materials. Encourage them to choose their favorites. This is the perfect time to introduce new vocabulary:
- Lumpy
- Grainy
- Gritty
- Smooth
- Silky
- Bristly
- Bumpy
- Pokey
- Fuzzy
Ask fun comparison questions like, “Does this feel like the rough rock we found on our walk?” or “Does this remind you of your stuffed animal?"
Step 3: Create the sensory mosaic
- For sheet materials: Use the glue stick to attach fabric, foil, bubble wrap, or paper squares to the grid.
- For loose materials: Paint a thin layer of school glue onto a square and sprinkle on sand, glitter, rice, or beads. Let it dry, then shake off the excess.
Step 4: Join in the fun
Do the project alongside your child. Choose different textures than they do to show how diverse and unique each art piece can be.
Teaching moments
- Fine motor skills: Have your child practice cutting materials with safety scissors or scooping loose materials into bowls.
- Vocabulary expansion: Use descriptive words for each texture. Pull out a thesaurus and challenge yourself to find even more!
This activity isn’t just art, it’s a chance for your preschooler to explore their senses, strengthen fine motor skills, and learn new words, all while having fun.