Painting with centrifugal force: an activity between artistic exploration and physical phenomena
At the Crèche Les Mousquetaires, we offered the children an activity that combines observation, movement and creation: painting with a salad spinner.
This project is part of our desire to transform everyday objects into educational tools with high utility value. Here, the affordance of the wringer—diverted from its primary function—opens up a new field of exploration, at once sensory, scientific, and artistic.
A sensory activity from everyday life
After cutting out a paper flower, the children freely chose the colors they wanted to use. They placed the paint in the center of their holder, which was placed at the bottom of the spinner.
By turning the crank, they were able to observe how the paint was distributed under the effect of centrifugal force.
Each movement produces a unique result. Colors expand, intersect, and blend. It's a true visual experience that engages sight, gesture, and intuition.
Discover physical phenomena through play
Beyond the creative dimension, this activity allows a first concrete approach to physical notions such as:
centrifugal force;
the cause and effect relationship (turn ➝ propel the paint);
the diffusion and mixing of colors.
Children experiment, observe the results, comment on what they see in French and Luxembourgish, and make simple links between the action and its consequences.
An active and experiential approach
This type of activity reflects our educational approach based on active pedagogies, in line with the principles of the national reference framework for non-formal education.
Children are active participants in their own learning. They explore, manipulate, start over, and adjust. They create independently, in a secure environment, while developing their powers of observation, reflection, and language.
We also encourage the repurposing of objects, a source of discovery and invention. This principle of affordance promotes the creative reuse of familiar elements, thus reinforcing the anchoring of learning in the child's daily environment.
Find a daycare that supports free exploration
For families looking for a daycare in Leudelange or the surrounding area, our organization offers an approach based on kindness, autonomy, and active development through meaningful projects.
At the Crèche Les Mousquetaires, children are supported to experiment freely, understand the world through action, and express themselves through varied materials and authentic situations.