One Box, Anything
A big box, some tape, and no instructions whatsoever.
Tape a huge sheet of paper to the floor and let them draw on their hands and knees.
Working big and low uses the whole body, and children draw far more freely on the floor than at a table.
Drawing on the floor engages the shoulder and trunk rather than just the fingers, which builds the postural strength that neat handwriting later depends on. The large scale also removes the perfectionism that a small sheet of paper invites.
Washable crayons if the floor is carpeted, and tape down every edge so nobody slips.
Roll it up and keep the best section.
A big box, some tape, and no instructions whatsoever.
Find a smooth stone, paint it, leave it somewhere for a stranger.
A bucket of water, a decorating brush, and a whole wall to paint.
Old pans, a bucket of soil, some water, and no rules at all.
A cardboard frame, a white sheet, a lamp, and a proper show.
Paper chains, lanterns and bunting made from what is in the recycling.