learning colors

Mayhem & Messy Play #3: Mixing Colors Messy Play Science Experiment

Messy play doesn’t have to cover the whole house; this mixing colors messy play science experiment was limited to the kitchen table but the play wasn’t.messy play color science

Recently, with a record amount of rainfall in our area, we’ve had a few rainbows. This inspired our rainbow activity. Have you seen the science experiments with colors and water that moves from one glass to another on a paper towel road? It’s really exciting and kids can watch the action. Here’s how we did it:

messy play color scienceFirst, we placed 6 clear glasses in a circle. We filled 3 of them with water and squirted a couple of drops of different food coloring in each one. There was one glass of red, yellow, and blue. The other 3 glasses were empty. Big Sister said she thought the water would transfer from the full glasses to the empty ones all around. When I asked Little Sister what she thought might happen, she didn’t answer the question but volunteered to mix up all the colors.messy play color scienceThe next step is the double magic. We folded a length of paper towel and placed one end in a glass of colored water and the other end in an empty one next to it on both sides. We repeated this until we had what looks like 6 bridges, linking all the glasses. When we placed the paper towel in the red glass, it started moving down the dry end of the paper towel immediately.messy play color science

Before we’d even finished folding and putting in all the bridges, the water from the red glass was already dripping into the empty one. When they were all done, it only took a couple of minutes for the water level to start creeping up in the empty glasses.

messy play color science

Not only did the water transfer from the full glasses to the empty ones, but the colors mixed too. And it didn’t take long at all. From starting with the 3 colors of red, yellow and blue, there were now all 6 with orange, green, and purple. In the photo, there isn’t much difference between the red and the orange but it was more noticeable looking from the side.

messy play color science

Little Sister very much wanted to mix the colors. With an eye dropper she got bits of colored water from each glass and squirted in the others. The paper towels were in her way so she put them in a bowl. After squirting and mixing for a few minutes, the colors were certainly messy.

messy play color scienceAt this point, she used the paper towels to soak up the water in the glasses and squeezed the water out into the bowl. Now there was a messy concoction of towel and brown-grey water, beyond the original intention of this mixing colors messy play science experiment.messy play color science

Big Sister was more interested in the science experiment aspect. Little Sister was simply experimenting to see what she could make happen by squirting and squeezing. When both were done, clean-up was pretty quick. The value of the play was different for each of them, but it was fun and learning for all of us, me included. Can this mixing colors messy play science experiment inspire some messy play and learning for your child?

Can you come out and play?

Tomorrow, we’ll do another messy play activity so come play.

Olympic Games #15 – Olympic Color Activities for Kids

The Olympics are bright and vibrant with colors filling the days of the Games so today let’s fill the day with some Olympic color activities for kids.

Olympic color activities for kids

There is no doubt both kids and adults play with colors. Are the ads on TV in black and white? Are signs that warn of danger and how to move safely in traffic in grey and brown? Do flowers come all in the same color? Even nature is rich with color. Color can be a part of your child’s day, both at play and helping with tasks, in ways that are easy and fun.

A very simple game is I Spy A Color. Either you or your child can choose a color and an item of that color and invite the other to play. “I spy something yellow,” is a challenge to name yellow things in a room or space. A reply might be, “Is it the book on the table?” Guesses continue until one of you gets the object. Continue taking turns and changing colors. In our kitchen, it’s the yellow gloves for washing dishes.

Olympic color activities for kids

Find a Rainbow is another color game. This can be played anywhere. You say a color and your child finds something that color. Name as many colors as are appropriate for your child. For young ones, this may only be three or four. For older kids, you might do basic colors and several others, like grey, brown, beige, turquoise, etc. Make up a few silly words or find something multi-colored that needs lots of names, like orangey-purple-greenish for some color fun. Kids can choose the colors and you can find something. Make a few mistakes so your child has to correct you. This usually adds some giggles.

The Olympic rings are blue, black, red, yellow, and green. Just the same as ones in a box of food coloring, except for black. Not all Olympic color activities explode and bubble with color, but this one does. Spoon some baking soda into a pie tin or other shallow container. In four small dishes, like the pots from apple sauce pour in a couple of spoonfuls of vinegar. Add a few drops of blue to one pot of vinegar, and red to a second one, yellow to a third, and green to the last. With an eye dropper, kids can squeeze up one color of vinegar solution and squirt it onto the baking soda. Suddenly, the color starts to bubble and spread. Kids repeat this for all four colors. They can try and make a black ring by mixing some of the colors. The result is sort of black.

science color fizzy fun baking soda vinegar

Include color in tasks and chores around the house. Sort the laundry into colors. Unload of one color dishes from the dishwasher. Then, do another color until it is empty. Kids can pick up all of one color toy from the floor to put away. Hint: choose the color of the most toys on the floor first. Once they are put away, it doesn’t look like so much left to do.

Olympic color activities for kids

Colors can influence our mood. Learning colors is really complicated with so many shades to go with only a few names. Can you add some fun and learning to your child’s day with Olympic color activities and play?

Space Fun #9: Space Art Activities for Kids

The possibilities for space art activities are like space: endless. From simple to complex, easy to challenging, there are ones to appeal to all kids.

What shape are planets? As far as we know, they are round. In pictures, planets are circles. A very special kind of paper is circles and it’s found right in the kitchen. Coffee filters. While they are only one shape, planets can be any color.

space art activities

Using markers, kids color all over the coffee filter planets. They can do just one or as many as they like. Fortunately, dollar stores have really big packs of filters at very reasonable prices. Once the planets are ready, it’s time for some art and science magic. Protecting the table or counter with an old towel is a good idea, especially before doing the next part.

What do scientists hope to find on planets? They look for water. With a squirt bottle, kids spray water on the planets. This makes the colors of the markers spread out and blend, changing colors in some places as the water and colors mix. When dry, these are colorful to hang up in a window. Since the filters are so light, a small piece of tape is usually enough.

Kids might want to name their planet. Are the colors different things on the planets? Water might not be blue on another planet, it could be red or purple. Plants might be pink or yellow instead of green. This could be either confusing or helpful for learning colors. Wouldn’t it be unusual if mud was a bright color instead of brown or grey?

Some planets might be all one color. Squirting with water creates different effects even with all the same color. Coloring and squirting is also a fun way to create aliens.

Not all children are particularly interested in art, even space art activities. Nor, do all kids like to draw and color. But a squirt bottle adds a whole lot more fun factor. Maybe this play-of-the-day is playnetary?

Outside Leprechaun Walk Looking For Green

A treasure arrived in our area today, a very welcome sun! We’re going outside for a leprechaun walk looking for green. Maybe we’ll see one. A leprechaun walk looking for green is a sort of treasure hunt. For younger kids, it may be enough fun just to be outside and occasionally notice something green. Older … Continue reading Outside Leprechaun Walk Looking For Green

Color and Sensory Play: Soap Foam Rainbow

How about some color and sensory play? Color play has included science, math, songs, games, puzzles, cooking, stories, relationships, and thinking skills. Color fun has been both inside and outside, suitable for preschoolers of different ages. To finish a whole month of Colors of Childhood, here is a soap foam rainbow that comes with the … Continue reading Color and Sensory Play: Soap Foam Rainbow

Color Play for One-to-One Matching

Colors can be used for some amazing play opportunities. Unexpectedly, doing some exercises led to color play for one-to-one matching. Children’s play is immensely interesting to watch. Given time and space to play, kids will challenge themselves to solve problems while they are having fun. Little Sister started out with a 4 soft mats in … Continue reading Color Play for One-to-One Matching

Art Activities for Color Play and Learning

Art activities for color play include more than drawing. Stickers, tissue paper, and even coffee filters are inexpensive materials for playing with colors. A bag of dollar stickers can be fun for younger toddlers and older preschoolers. We opened a bag and poured some stickers into a plate so the pieces were easier to see. … Continue reading Art Activities for Color Play and Learning

Colors of Childhood: Adventure in Flying Color

This weekend, we wanted to do a nature activity but the fall weather is cool and rainy. A trip to a butterfly garden was an adventure in flying color. The butterfly garden only about an hour from where we live is more than a garden, it’s really a sort of indoor rain forest with tropical … Continue reading Colors of Childhood: Adventure in Flying Color