Making Tempera Paint at Home

Did you know that you can make paint in your very own home? In this experiment, make a spectacular painting using only ingredients from your kitchen cabinet and refrigerator! Using everyday ingredients and tools, embark on a hands-on process that prompts you to ask questions, mix compounds, and analyze materials like a scientist at the Museum.

MATERIALS

1 egg
1 egg carton
Several teaspoons of water
Colorful spices like turmeric and paprika
Chalk
A small plastic bag
Notebook or piece of paper
Paintbrush

INSTRUCTIONS

First, search your kitchen cabinets for colorful spices like turmeric for yellow and paprika for red. Add a small amount of each spice to your egg carton palette.
For colors that are harder to find like blue, you can ground up a piece of chalk in a plastic bag with the back of a spoon. Once it turns to a powder, add a spoonful to your egg carton.
Next, crack an egg and separate the yolk from the white. Mix just the yolk in a bowl and add a few teaspoons of water.
To paint, load your brush with a bit of egg and dip it into one of your substitute pigments. Apply it to the paper, and create your masterpiece!

REFLECTION

Which pigment was easiest for you to work with? Why do you think that is?
If you’d like, you can take the activity a step further and experiment with other kitchen ingredients to make new pigments. There are endless combinations!

TIMESTAMPS