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Painting With Corn

October 21, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This painting with corn process art activity is quick and easy to do and offers young children an unexpected way to paint. It can be completed in a few different ways, adding variety and sensory options to the art experience.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for painting with corn:

  • corn ear and husk
  • box or serving tray
  • large sheets of sturdy art paper
  • 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper
  • tempera paint
  • paint pots
  • paint tray
  • teaspoons
  • sharp knife

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Painting With Corn Techniques

Corn Painting In a Tray

The first way to paint with corn is to set a piece of sturdy paper into a low-edged box or serving tray.

Next, spoon globs of paint in the colors of your choice onto the paper.

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Then shuck an ear of corn and drop it in the box or tray. Or use an ear of corn that is already shucked for the art activity.

Tip the box or tray carefully from side to side to move the corn ear around, and you’ll soon have a completed piece of art.

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For a little more control, paint the ear of corn instead of spooning paint onto the art paper. When the corn cob is covered in paint, drop it into the box or tray. Then tip the box from side to side as in the process above.

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Painting By Hand Rolling Corn

A second way to paint with corn is to forgo using a box or tray for the art process. Simply set a large piece of sturdy paper on a table covered with newsprint or a washable tablecloth.

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Then drop globs of paint onto the paper and roll the corn over them with your hands as if you were using a rolling pin.

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Or paint the corn ear first and then roll it in different directions over the paper.

This rolling corn technique just might go over best with little learners, as they love to mingle with the paint.

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Corn Half Paint Prints

The third method of painting is to start by cutting an ear of corn in half with a sharp knife, aiming to get a smooth sliced end on each half.  

Next, spoon tempera paint colors into pie tins, disposable plates, or paint trays.

Dip the sliced end of one corn ear half into a paint color and press it onto the paper.

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When switching colors, wipe the paint-filled edge of the corn with a paper towel sheet before dipping it in a new hue.

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Corn Cob Paint Print

In the last method of painting with corn, the goal is to make a realistic corn cob by using a printmaking technique. In this art activity, a corn cob and a husk are used to make paint prints.

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For the art project, set out an ear of shucked corn. Save one of the green husks to use.

With a paintbrush, first thoroughly paint a corn ear with yellow tempera paint.

Next, press the corn cob on a piece of 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper, slightly rolling it back and forth with your fingers.

Remove the corn cob from the paper.

Then paint one side of a husk and press it down on the paper next to the corn print. Make a second husk print on the other side of the cob. Afterward, add a couple more husk prints around the corn.

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You may wish to try all of the above painting with corn methods as each adds an interesting twist to the art activity. Which corn process art painting technique is your favorite? Share in a comment below.

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Related: Corn Theme Activities

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[Read more…] about Painting With Corn

Filed Under: art, autumn, fall, gardening, preschool Tagged With: corn, painting, process art

Corn Theme Activities

September 6, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Corn theme activities perfect for autumn. Sensory and art setups inspired by a corn maze.

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Corn is a symbol of autumn and a garden plant with so many uses. We love it in foods, but it is also found in products such as oil, glue, hand soaps, cosmetics, and varnish. And corn cobs in an array of hues are showstoppers in fall décor. The versatile vegetable can be enjoyed by children in the corn theme activities below.

Corn Maze Visit

A corn maze visit is a farm-infused adventure everyone should have. Aside from the obvious nature challenge of finding one’s way through a giant corn maze, the experience offers so much more.

At my 2019 visit to a local site called the Edmonton Corn Maze, I saw children and adults embracing wholesome activities everywhere I turned. The outdoor venue offers:

The theme for the 2020 Edmonton Corn Maze.

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  • a corn maze with a pattern that can be viewed from up in the air. The 2020 theme is “Stronger Together.”
  • large motor opportunities such as hay bales to climb, wagons to pull, huge inflatable pillows to bounce on, and pedal carts to ride.
  • farm animals to admire up close. The “Goat Gang” pen was my favorite.
  • learning opportunities such as stations with facts about corn and farm animals, information panels about ecobuffers, and “Cornumdrum” questions to solve.
  • panels with “Funny Farmer” jokes.
  • play areas with small mazes and board games.
  • a toy-filled, sizable corn bin for young children to immerse themselves in.
  • a “U Pick” Sunflower Patch.
  • photo opportunities.
  • picnic areas.

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Corn Theme Activities

Follow up a trip to a corn maze or vegetable department in a grocery store by offering early learners hands-on activities with corn. Here are some options:

Corn Cob Exploration

Give little ones a chance to explore corn cobs. Talk about the parts of the cob: the soft silks, lime green husk, golden kernels, and shank. Allow them to remove the silks and husk from a cob of corn.

Corn Cobs

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A cob of corn with silks and peeled husk.

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Corn-Based Sensory Tray

Offer early learners a corn kernel and split pea-based sensory tray. Safari Toob farm animals, farmer, tractor and wagon, carrots, and sunflowers are the perfect size for this tray.

Farm sensory tray with a corn kernel and split pea base.

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Corn And Pig Sensory Tube

Set out a farm-themed sensory tube. This one is a clear plastic water bottle filled with pig figurines, gems, and corn cobs and kernels. You’ll find the pigs are super good at hiding!

Corn kernel, pig, and corn cob sensory tube.

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Corn Cob Paintings

Offer corn cobs in three unique painting experiences.

Activity Number One

Invite little ones to drip paint on a large piece of paper placed in a rectangular box, and then drop in a corn cob.  Ask them to tilt the box gently from side to side. The cob will move the paint around.

Invitation to make a rolled corn cob painting.

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Rolled corn cob painting.

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Activity Number Two

Another technique is to ask children to paint the corn cob with one or more colors of tempera paint, and lay the cob in a box lined with sturdy paper. Invite them to tip the box from side to side so the cob “paints the paper.”

Invitation to paint corn for rolled corn painting.

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Corn cob painting.

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The pictures below feature Indian corn-inspired painting.

Corn cob painted in Indian corn colors.

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Corn cob painting inspired by Indian corn.

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Painted cobs of corn.

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Activity Number Three

A third way is to slice a cob in half with a sharp knife. Invite early learners to dip the halves in different colors of paint and press them on paper to make corn cob prints. The corn can be washed or wiped down with a napkin between colors.

Invitation to make paint prints with sliced corn cobs.

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Printmaking with corn cob halves.

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Now back to what most people do with corn…eat it! If you are looking for inspiration for cooking with corn, check out the post “40 Fresh Corn Recipes“ on The Food Network. You are bound to find new ways for your family to savor it.

Related:

Cauliflower Theme Activities

Beet Science and Sensory Activities

Pumpkin Color Activities

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[Read more…] about Corn Theme Activities

Filed Under: art, gardening, sensory Tagged With: corn, corn maze

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky, a preschool teacher who loves sharing learning through play activities for young children. Thanks for visiting my site. Feel free to stay awhile!

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