Find resources / Activities / Making prints Activity

When making prints in the sand or on paper, tamariki have an opportunity to:

• be creative
• observe patterns and prints in the natural world
• try making patterns using different colours and shapes
• strengthen the practice of going from left to right, which helps with both reading and writing.

At the beach:

• Look for different footprints made by people, birds or animals.
• Take time to look carefully at the footprints. Ask your tamaiti: ‘What is the same or different about them?’ (smaller, bigger, longer), ‘I wonder why this one is deeper?’
• Make prints in the sand — footprints, handprints and wheel prints. Try making prints using different stones and shells.
• Try to copy some prints you’ve seen.

At home:

• Look for everyday objects that can make a print. They work best if they have at least one flat side. Try different blocks and lids, a potato masher, your thumbs and fingers.
• Make a ‘stamp pad’ using a folded cloth or a sponge and some liquid paint squirted into it.
• Provide paper for your tamaiti to make prints on.
• Make repeating print patterns. Encourage them to start on the left and move to the right.