• Leader Resource 1, Handprint Garden Mural
• Washable poster paint in rainbow colors
• A large roll of mural paper
• Shallow plates for each color of paint
• Several large paintbrushes (for stems)
• Optional: Smocks or old tee shirts
• Optional: Digital camera and printer
• Optional: Scissors and glue

• Let families know ahead of time that children will be painting with their hands.
• Designate an area for the mural paper that all participants can access, preferably outdoors. Tape the mural paper to a level surface where it will be okay if some paint is spilled.
• Pour paint on plates, one color per plate, and place the plates near the mural paper, where children can reach.
• Designate a hand-washing area.
• Optional: Recruit art-loving adult volunteers.
• Optional: if you are using a digital camera for faces, also take pictures of the process.

Using Leader Resource 1, Handprint Garden Mural, as a guide, tell the children they will work cooperatively to paint a garden mural using only their hands (mostly). Each person will make a flower representing themself, using a brush to make only the stem, and using their own hand dipped in paint to make the blossom part of their flower. When the flowers are done, direct the children to use their paint-dipped hands to complete the picture with handprint grass, sky, and sun.

Leave time for everyone to wash their hands.

Variation

Take a digital photo of each participant's face, then print and cut out the face and glue it in the center of that child's handprint flower.

Position the mural paper also everyone can reach and decorate it.