It Looks Like Spilled Milk: A Paint-Folding Art Activity
"It Looks Like Spilled Milk" by Charles G. Shaw shows kids that a shape in the sky (or anywhere) can look like lots of different things depending on how you see it. In this paint-folding activity, kids make their own shape and then tell you what it looks like to them.
What You'll Need
White paint in squeeze bottles, blue construction paper, and a white colored pencil or black marker for kids to write their names.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Read "It Looks Like Spilled Milk" at circle time. Stop on each page and ask kids what they think the white shape could be.
Cut the blue construction paper in half. Fold each half in half to make a crease down the center, then unfold it.
Have each child squeeze 3–5 drops of white paint onto one side of the paper.
Fold the paper along the crease and gently smooth it with one hand.
Open the paper back up. Each child now has their own white shape on a blue background.
Ask the child, "What does your picture look like to you?" Write their answer on the back.
Have the child write their name on the front with the white pencil or black marker.
Classroom Tips
Squeeze bottles are much easier than cups of paint. Kids can control how much paint comes out, and there's less mess. Use a fairly thin white paint so it spreads when the paper is folded.
Put the finished pictures up on a "sky" bulletin board with a blue background so they look like clouds. Add a label with each child's name and what they said their shape looks like. Parents love reading these.
This fits well in a weather, seasons, or imagination unit. You can also read a few short poems about clouds while kids are working.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paint should I use?
Tempera paint. It's washable and about the right thickness. If it's too thick to spread when folded, thin it with a little water. Acrylic dries too fast for this.
Can we use other colors?
Yes. Try light blue paint on white paper, yellow on black paper for a night sky, or let kids pick their own colors. The book uses white on blue, but any two colors with strong contrast will work.
What if a child says "I don't know" when I ask what their picture looks like?
Give a gentle prompt: "Does it look like an animal? A food? Something outside?" If they still aren't sure, that's okay. Write "I'm still deciding" or whatever they say about the colors. Looking closely is the point, not coming up with a certain answer.