Preschoolers love experimenting with different art techniques. Hand them a pair of chopsticks to practice their painting skills with something a bit different. This preschool art activity is a wonderful addition to an international preschool theme or as an extension activity to Asian themed preschool books.

What You Need

A pair of chopsticks for each preschooler – Local chinese restaurants or fast food restaurants may be willing to provide disposable chopsticks for free
Several colors of paint
Art Paper

What Are Chopsticks?

Hold up a pair of chopsticks and ask the preschoolers if they have ever seen them before? Ask anyone who has used them before to stand up? Have any preschoolers who stand up to tell the class what chopsticks are used for.

Tell the preschoolers that in some places people eat with chopsticks instead of forks. Demonstrate how they hold chopsticks between their thumb and first two fingers. Have each preschooler practice holding the chopsticks the way you showed them. Tell them that some people use chopsticks to eat meat, vegetables, and even rice.

Have preschoolers try picking up several small objects with the chopsticks.

What To Do

Give each preschooler a pair of chopsticks and a piece of art paper. Tell the preschoolers that you are going to use the chopsticks as paint brushes. have them dip the ends of the chopsticks in paint and use them to paint designs on their paper.

Variation

Print several letters of the alphabet or preschoolers names on a piece of art paper. Have preschoolers dip their chopsticks in paint and trace the letters on the paper.