This week’s Virtual Book Club theme is owls. Recently Adam had first hand experience of seeing a baby Barn Owl in Nana’s garden. They have an owl nest box on their wall but discovered one of the owlets under a bush. Nana picked up the owlet, climbed a ladder and placed it back in the nest box. At the beginning of the video Adam is talking about the two teddies he has found to give to the owl if it got scared.
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The owls remained in the area for some time and have only recently left.
For the Virtual Book Club series we decided to create an Owl Babies Sponge Painting activity. We would create three paintings to represent Sarah, Percy and Bill from Owl Babies written by Martin Waddell. That is not all though – our painting would light up!
Resources needed for Owl Babies Sponge Painting
* Three Black Mini Canvases. We purchased a pack of three from Baker Ross
* Black and Brown Permanent Marker Pen
* Battery Operated Fairy Lights with 10 LEDs
How To Make Owl Babies Sponge Painting
1) Draw an owl template onto contact paper. Cut out the middle so you are left with the owl outline and stick the contact paper to the black canvas. We didn’t have any contact paper to hand so used sticky backed wood effect vinyl.
2) Use the natural sea sponge to add white paint inside the owl shape.
3) Repeat the same process for the two other paintings but make the owl slightly smaller each time. This is to represent the different sizes of Sarah, Percy and Bill.
4) Leave the paint to dry.
5) Remove the contact paper and use a black and brown permanent marker pens to add the owls features.
6) Push a small screwdriver through the canvas to create holes.
7) Insert Battery Operated Fairy Lights through the holes so that the wires are hidden at the back of the canvas. The individual lights will stay in place by themselves. I sellotaped the wires down and secured the battery pack underneath the wooden frame inside the canvas.
8) Display your light up Owl Babies Sponge Paintings, turn off the light and enjoy your masterpiece.
We have positioned Adam’s Owl Babies Sponge Painting in his bedroom. It is a wonderful accompaniment to the Owl Babies story. If Adam is worried at night time, just like Sarah, Percy and Bill were, then he is able to turn on the Owl Babies night light canvas.
This weeks Virtual Book Club story is Owl Babies by Martin Waddell. Check out the other owl themed activities:
- Letter – Roll & Color – Owl Themed Sea of Knowledge
- Owl Babies Activities – Mosswood Connections
- Owl Babies Counting Activity – Clare’s Little Tots
- Owl’s Day Ordering Activity – My Storytime Corner
- Owl Counting Playdough Mats – Preschool Powol Packets
- Owl Eyesight STEM Exploration for Kids
- Feathery Owls Color Matching Activity – To be a Kid Again
- Pre-writing Craft for Kids: Scratch Art Owl – School Time Snippets
- Movement Tricks to Help with Separation Anxiety in Preschool
- Owl Puppets – Powerful Mothering
- Owl Babies Shape Activity for Preschoolers – Rainy Day Mum
- Can You Build A Nest – Views From The Step Stool
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This is such a cool project. I love the idea of adding lights to the painting.
We are slightly addicted to battery operated lights!
That is so cool that your son got a real close up and personal experience with the owls. I’m a bit jealous. Your sponge painting is adorable but the lights really make it super special.
We are extremely lucky to live in the countryside.
I can’t believe how close he got to the owls what an amazing experience. The canvases would make a lovely gift for grandparents so cute 🙂
Great idea about the gifts!
Adam adores this painting!