Preschool Story + Art Project
A series by Mandy Goodwin, MSW, LCSW, school social worker and Paint Love staff
Pout Pout Fish and the Bully Bully Shark + Watercolor and Salt Jellyfish Craft
Pout Pout Fish and the Bully Bully Shark by Deborah Deisen
In case you’re not familiar, below is the first Pout Pout Fish book, where the Pout Pout Fish learns he is unique and special!
This story and project help kids think about being a friend. Challenge each other to brainstorm ways you can be there for friends when you can’t see them in person. Maybe sending a funny video of a jellyfish yoga post to make them smile, or leaving a note and jelly fish friend in their mailbox?
Here is the Pout Pout Fish and the Bully Bully Shark, where Pout Pout Fish learns about standing up to bullies.
Watercolor + Salt Jellyfish
Supplies
Watercolor paints
Brushes
Thick paper
Marker/pencil
Kosher salt
Cup of water
Kid scissors (for kids 3+)
Start with some movement
Be a jellyfish, wiggling your arms and legs in the sea!
Engage your tummy muscles and see if you can balance like a boat.
Directions
Looking at the pictures in the book as an example if you want to, outline a jellyfish on your paper
Use the watercolor paints to paint the jellyfish and the sea around it
While the paint is still wet, pour a little salt into you hand and sprinkle it onto your painting.
Let the watercolor dry and then brush the salt off- it will leave a fun pattern from where the salt soaked up the paint color!
Use your scissors to cut out the tentacles so they can swim in the ocean
For older kids: Try an experiment with different kinds of salt and different levels of wetness with the paints. See what happens!
Discussion
What does it mean to be a friend? What does it mean to stand up for someone else?
What is one way someone has been a friend to you? What is one way you’ve been a good friend to someone else? What is one thing you could do to be a good friend today to someone you know?