Splat Mats

I didn't know what a splat mat was until I came across the idea a few days ago on a homeschooling site. I'm sure we've all used one in our lifetime but I never knew what they were called. Sure, we could call them activity mats or even place mats. They all have the same principal in mind. But I just love the name SPLAT MAT. It's fun! And it's more fun to make them instead of loading up four children in the van and traipsing out in the cold to wreak havoc on Walmart to buy these things that I can make for way cheap at home, I think. Once I finish laminating them (only 1 left to do) we'll use them during art time to protect the table from the ravages of glue, paint, and other unknown (but non-toxic) substances that may come our way.

Zack's handy work. He chose Marvel comic stickers and paint.
He REALLY liked the paint. :o)

Miss Lauren's--ok, mommy did this one but she helped by sticking her finger in the paint. And she picked out the kitten and puppy. Ok, I did that one too.

Matt's---it has trains and big yellow do-hickies. He's the only one who'd let me take his picture with his mat. Just kidding. If I'd let Lauren hold hers she would have tried to eat it. And the other two were busy somewhere else.

Todd's---I'm very impressed with his. Check out the detail. He didn't want paint, just stickers and markers, but I love how he put the whole scene together. He even trimmed the oxygen tank and flashlight stickers to make them look like they're sitting in the boat. There's also 'light' coming from the flashlight so the scuba diver can see the fish he's trying to take a picture of. Cool. :o) (BTW, that's Matt's finger at the top of the picture. He tried to put his head in the shot but I told him to move it so he stuck his finger in instead. Goofy child.)

And check out his name. How creative!