Dirt Art

If you use your imagination, you can create art using almost anything-even dirt!  This month let nature inspire you to create dirt art.

What You Need
1 Piece of construction paper Pen Glue Dirt A cardboard box or tray (larger than the paper) to catch any excess dirt A Tupperware container or a plastic cup for scooping dirt
What You Do

Go outside in your backyard, a nearby park, or by the South Platte River and collect a few handfuls of dirt.  Bring a plastic grocery bag or a small Tupperware container for carrying the dirt.  As you are collecting your dirt, see if you can make some observations:  What color is the dirt?  Do you see anything living in the dirt? (If so, make sure you do not disturb any of these creatures!)  Is the dirt soft or rough?  Is the dirt wet or dry?  What does the dirt smell like?  What kind of plants are living in the dirt?  Hint:  Want to experiment with different textures?  Visit the South Platte River and collect sand instead of dirt for your picture.

Use a pen to draw the outline of your picture on the construction paper
Trace over your pen drawing with glue.  (Less is more for this step.  If you use lots and lots of glue, your picture may turn out too gooey!)
Use a Tupperware container or a plastic cup to scoop out some dirt.  Holding your picture over the cardboard box or tray, pour the dirt over your picture.  Don’t worry about putting the dirt exactly in the right place, the dirt will stick to the glue and all the extra dirt will slide right off.
Carefully pull your picture out from under the dirt and gently shake any excess dirt off the paper.  Lay your picture on a flat surface and let it dry for at least an hour, then find a place to display your new dirt art!