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Mixing Colors the Easy (and Fun) Way!

February 20, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Create, Learning through Play and Experience 4 Comments

dscn0535Here’s a color-mixing project that is quick, easy, and inexpensive.  Fill three clear containers(jars are great) about 2/3 full with water colored blue, yellow, and red with liquid or powder water colors, or with plain old food coloring.  Provide a few extra empty containers for mixing.  Place all of these on a towel-lined tray, or in a sensory table.  Provide a baster or dropper for transferring water, or provide several different instruments of varying sizes for experimenting.  Children will be absorbed in this activity, transferring water and creating new colors, while building a bundle of developmental skills! 

Mixing colors is a cognitive, as well as creative, activity.  Moving the water with a variety of tools is a provides small motor strength, hand eye coordination, and an exposure to basic science tools.  As the amount of water in each container changes, or as tools with varying capacities are used, discussion can be guided toward math concepts such as “less than” and “more than”.  To support literacy, use this activity in conjunction with a great color mixing book, such as Mouse Paint, by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

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  1. Color Mixing Scientists | Not Just CuteNot Just Cute says:
    October 9, 2012 at 1:15 am

    […] wrote about this simple approach to color mixing almost four years ago here.  That four year-old in the photo is now a much bigger eight year-old  *sniff*  (though he still […]

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  2. Think Outside the Stacks: Early Childhood Blogs for Librarians Part 1 | Beth Reads says:
    February 3, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    […] Mixing Scientists  which builds on Mixing Colors the Easy (and Fun) Way It’s science for preschoolers with corresponding picture books included. What more could you ask […]

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  3. Think Outside the Stacks: Early Childhood Blogs for Librarians Part 1 | Beth Reads says:
    March 24, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    […] Mixing Scientists  which builds on Mixing Colors the Easy (and Fun) Way It’s science for preschoolers with corresponding picture books included. What more could you ask […]

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  4. A Handful Of Fun | Your Child's Journey says:
    March 4, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    […] pertinent to the bin’s contents. Things like gravity, parts of plants, states of matter, and color mixing are easily explored and understood through sensory play. As you teach appropriate boundaries with […]

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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