Today, in our home childcare, the children explored scientific concepts that naturally flowed into process art. It’s always a joyous day to watch their creativity in our outdoor learning environment, which blends content areas.
I’ve been experimenting with colors, specifically dye baths using flowers from my garden, and decided to invite the children into an art experience using flowers on wet, mordanted fabric. I usually use alum as the mordant, but this time I tried vinegar instead. Before introducing the project, we began with a discussion: What colors live inside flowers?
children using flowers from the garden for art
What Happened
We began with observation and curiosity.
The children studied the veins of leaves and then compared them to the veins on their hands. My veins are more visible, so I used them as an example to show how blood flows through our bodies. The children examined their own hands and noticed the faint lines beneath their skin.
We discussed what happens when we get an ouchie and blood flows from our body. Then we compared it to torn leaves — no blood, but plants need water and nutrients to stay healthy, just as we do. From there, we discussed chlorophyll and what gives plants their green color.
I then invited the children to look at flowers in the garden and guess: What color lives inside these blooms?
Excitedly, they picked cosmos, marigolds, golden rod, purple aster, zinnias and coleus leaves, bringing them to the table where the autumn wind tossed petals around, adding a touch of adventure to the process.
children covering garden flowers with her hand
The Hands-On Science
- I had cut cotton fabric into small squares ahead of time.
- Each piece was soaked in full-strength distilled vinegar (acting as a mordant) and wrung out. I did this step myself, as vinegar can be harsh on little hands.
- The children placed the damp fabric on cutting boards, added flowers and leaves, and then used mallets to pound the pigments into the fibers.
The results? Yellows, oranges, greens, reds, and burgundy tones — each fabric swatch very unique. Even our youngest, a mobile infant, joined in by banging leaves and watching colors bleed onto the cloth.
Why It’s Powerful
- Science in Action: Pigments, acids, and fibers worked together in a living chemistry lesson. Children saw that plants carry color, just as our veins carry blood.
- Process Art: No two fabrics looked the same. The joy was in exploration, not perfection.
- Nature Awareness: Cosmos offered pinks, marigolds gave yellows, oranges, and reds, while coleus revealed burgundy and deep greens. Each plant carried its own gift.
- History & Culture: Long before synthetic dyes, people used plants to color fabric. The children unknowingly echoed this ancient tradition — something I’ve also been learning and practicing myself.
- Inclusivity: Toddlers, preschoolers, and even babies can engage at their own level.
Try This at Home or in Your Classroom
You don’t need special kits. Try it with:
- Cotton or muslin fabric squares
- Leaves and petals from your garden (cosmos, marigolds, coleus, pansies, snapdragons, or any safe plants)
- Vinegar (play with full strength or dilute, or even experiment with salt)
- Cutting board + rock, mallet, or hammer
Soak the fabric in vinegar, wring it out, and place flowers on top. Cover with another cloth, clingfilm, or foil, then let the children pound until the colors release. Hang to dry and admire the gallery of natural art.
If you decide to wash the fabric later, rinse gently with mild soap.
A Seasonal Connection
These colors came from our September garden and flowers that bloomed in Illinois. Next year, the hues and timing may change depending on what blooms. This makes the project a practice in phenology — noticing and tracking seasonal patterns through art and science.
Final Reflection
In this one activity, children connected to biology, chemistry, art, and cultural history. They learned that the world is full of hidden gifts — if only we take time to notice.
We’ve done similar projects on paper without mordants, but using fabric allowed the children to see colors bind in a lasting way.
Small steps like this — pounding petals into fabric — create beautiful transformations, not only on the cloth but in the hearts of children learning to see nature with wonder.
Next post you will see how we dyed over the fabric and changed the colors.
Until next time,
I am Miss Sue, your educator, walking alongside you.
