Translucent Collages

Ages 2-5

Creating collages with translucent and opaque materials, then using flashlights to shine light through the artwork and discussing the opacity of the materials.

Objective:

• Students will learn about opacity by by shining light through art materials with different levels of opacity
  
• Students will strengthen gluing stills by pasting tissue paper pieces to wax paper
  

Key Terms:

• Opaque: a substance that light cannot pass through.
  
• Translucent: A substance that light can pass through, semi transparent
  
• Collage: any kind of art made by sticking materials to a surface.
  

Materials:

• Wax paper
  
• ribbon (12 inch pieces)
  
• Tissue paper
  
• Glue sticks
  
• Foam stickers (shapes, letters, etc.)
  
• Flashlights
  

Prep Work:

• Cut wax paper into 8x10 pieces (image shown is of a heart because we did this project for valentines day. Wax paper can be any shape)
  
• Cut/tear tissue paper into small pieces. (Optional: have older kids do this part)
  
• Day of: Create name tag stickers for children so they can “sign their artwork”
  

Project:

• KEY TERMS: TRANSLUCENT, COLLAGE
  
• Explain to the children that we will be making translucent artwork. That means artwork that light can pass through. Practice saying translucent.
  
• Pass out wax paper hearts to each child and ask if they can see through it. Do they think light can shine through it? If light can go through, it is translucent. Pass out flashlights to test this. Turn down the lights and shine lights through the paper. If there are not enough flashlights, children can take turns.
  
• Collect flashlights. Tell children we will use them again later, but first we will add more materials to our hearts.
  
• Explain to children that we will make a collage. A collage is any kind of art made by sticking materials to a surface. We will glue tissue paper, and stick stickers to our heart. Pass out tissue paper and glue sticks and assist children gluing. Tip: ask them to think of the glue stick like a marker and color anywhere they want to be sticky.
  
• Pass out stickers and ask children to stick them onto their heart.
  
• Pass out name tag stickers and ask children to sign their work by sticking the sticker to their artwork.
  
• All children should do the last step together. Those who finish early can read, free draw, etc. while they wait for others to catch up. Pass out flashlights again, turn down the lights and have children test if the hearts are still translucent. Can light pass through the tissue paper? Can light pass through the stickers? What areas or colors are brightest?  Why? Encourage children to try hanging their heart on a window tomorrow and let the sunlight pass through it. Art like this is called a suncatcher.
  
• Have children carry their artwork to the drying rack/drying table.  
  
• Clean up: put glue sticks in the bin, books on table, drawing materials in bins, etc.
  
• If there is extra time: play with toys, play a game, sings songs, etc. ​