Rainy Day Umbrellas

It has been raining for the past three days here, which is a blessing as it brings much needed moisture to our dry arid climate and gives us a great opportunity to celebrate by creating colorful umbrellas from supplies we had on hand- coffee filters, construction paper and watercolors or markers. When the sun comes back out they will brighten your windows as the sunshine streams through them.

You will need:
bleached basket style coffee filters
construction paper- we used black, brown and red
watercolor palette, markers or marker dobbers
spray bottle or pipette (not completely necessary)
water
glue
tape

Begin by laying a coffee filter flat on a nonabsorbent, washable surface.
Smaller children may need to have their art surface attached to the table or working surface with tape to keep it from moving. If using markers, be sure to use a lot of ink, covering most of the surface.

Add just enough water (with a spray bottle, pipette or sprinkle with finger tips) to make the colors spread but not so much that the water runs through the filter and draws the water and color out.

Or use marker dobbers.

Down come the rain drops SPLASH, SPLASH, SPLASH! (stamp feet on the splashes)

Let’s run for cover, DASH, DASH, DASH!  (run on the spot)

Pitter patter, pitter patter, DRIP, DRIP, DROP! (clap hands in rhythm)

I’m under my umbrella till the raindrops STOP! (put up pretend umbrella)