Materials
- water
- food coloring
- plastic containers (pill boxes with sections or plastic egg cartons)
- eyedroppers (straws could be substituted)
What to do
1. Give the children individual containers with water in them.
2. Allow the children to add a few drops of red, blue, and yellow food coloring to separate sections of the containers.
3. Provide eyedroppers or straws and encourage the children to take drops from one container and place them in an empty one.
4. Have the children add drops from one section to another and watch what happens. Help them identify the new colored water.
5. Use many containers to create new colors from the existing ones.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
- To extend the activity, try painting on paper with the colors created, making a chart with all of the colors created, or creating sealed water bottles of each color for the science center.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
- Review all the colors the children created with the food coloring and water.
- Are the children developing their small motor skills by using the eyedroppers and straws?
-Michelle Barnea, Millburn, NJ
