DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Earth Day Shaving Cream Craft

Creating a shaving cream and paper plate Earth craft can be a fun and educational activity for preschoolers. This craft allows children to learn about the Earth, including its shape and colors, in a tactile and engaging way. Here's a simple guide on how to make it:

Materials:

• Metal cookie sheet
• White shaving cream (foam type)
• Washable blue and green paint
• Craft sticks or paintbrushes
• Paper plates
• Squeegee or a straight-edged piece of cardboard
• Newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to cover the work area

Instructions:

• Prepare the Work Area:

  • Lay down newspapers or a plastic tablecloth to protect your work surface from any mess.

• Shaving Cream Base:

  • Have the preschoolers squirt a thick layer of shaving cream onto the metal cookie sheet, covering it enough to make a canvas for their Earth creation.

• Adding Paint:

  • Next, let the children squirt a small amount of blue paint over the shaving cream, using more blue than green to mimic the Earth's abundant oceans. Add a few smaller drops of green paint to represent the land.

  • It's important to start with a little paint; you can always add more if needed. This step also provides a great opportunity to discuss with the children why there's more blue (oceans) than green (land) on the Earth. Leave some white spaces to represent the clouds.

• Swirling the Colors:

  • Using a craft stick or the back end of a paintbrush, gently swirl the blue and green paints into the shaving cream. The goal is to create a marbled effect that resembles the Earth, without overmixing the colors. Encourage the children to make light, wavy motions to mimic the natural swirls of the Earth's surface.

• Making the Earth Print:

  • Press a paper plate, face down, onto the swirled shaving cream and paint mixture. Gently pat to ensure all parts of the plate touch the shaving cream, then lift the plate.

• Revealing the Earth:

  • Use a squeegee, scraper, or a straight-edged piece of cardboard to gently scrape off the excess shaving cream from the paper plate. This will reveal a beautiful, marbled pattern of blue and green, representing the Earth.

• Drying Time:

  • Set the completed Earth plates aside to dry. The paint and shaving cream mixture will dry relatively flat, leaving a colorful and tactile representation of the Earth.

• Discussion Time:

  • While the crafts are drying, engage the preschoolers in a discussion about the Earth. Talk about the continents, the oceans, and the importance of water. This craft provides a visual and tactile way to understand the predominance of water on our planet.

This craft not only stimulates the preschoolers' creativity and sensory skills but also introduces basic geographical concepts (land vs ocean) in an engaging and memorable way. Enjoy this creative journey as you explore the wonders of our planet together!

Shaving cream crafts, especially those mixed with paint, generally dry well, but the final result and drying time can vary based on several factors, including the amount of shaving cream and paint used, the type of surface you're applying it to, and the environmental conditions.

Here are some points to consider about how well and how shaving cream crafts dry:

1. Drying Time: Shaving cream mixed with paint will typically dry slower than paint alone due to the added moisture from the shaving cream. It can take several hours to overnight for the craft to fully dry, depending on the thickness of the application and the ambient temperature and humidity.

2. Texture and Appearance: As the shaving cream dries, it will lose some of its volume and the fluffy texture will flatten out, but the marbled or swirled color effect will remain. The final dried texture might be slightly puffy but much less so than when first applied.

3. Environmental Factors: The drying time and quality can be affected by environmental conditions. Higher humidity can significantly slow down the drying process, while a warm, dry environment can speed it up.

4. Longevity: Once dry, shaving cream crafts can be quite durable, especially when mixed with paint. However, they might be susceptible to damage if exposed to moisture or direct handling, as the surface can be a bit delicate.

Given these considerations, it's a good idea to plan for adequate drying time and handle the finished craft carefully and as little as possible. Shaving cream crafts can be a fantastic sensory activity with beautiful results, but they do require a bit of patience during the drying phase.

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