3rd grade Printing

Third graders are learning about coral reefs in my art room and preparing for their artwork. We have read books, practiced drawing sea animals, and painted wet on wet oceans with pearl watercolors. Today we made prints from Gelli plates. We will make coral and seaweed from these. Students painted with tempera on the plates using only 2 primary colors at a time. Then they drew designs in the paint with a cotton swab. Paper is laid on top and pressed. Then the print is pulled. The process is very free and lots of fun! The results are beautiful!