Pint
Sized Science: Learning About Colors
By Sandy Fleming
Color is a very important
part of our lives, and children notice it
almost as soon as they are born. Their curiosity about color
is
evident in nearly everything they do. Help youngsters learn more
about color and how it works with these fun activities.
Prism Magic
Use a prism (available in many toy, hobby, and nature stores)
to
break
sunlight into rainbows. Can you position a second prism to put
the
rainbow back together? If you do not have a prism, sunlight can
be
broken into rainbows by passing through curved surfaces as well.
Try using a clear jar or glass to make your colors.
Fun With Inks and Dyes
Colored inks can be broken apart as well. Use water-soluble markers
on
paper towels. Make a dot of color and dip the very end of the
towel
into water so it soaks up toward the color. Have your children
describe what happens. Try different colors. Do they all
act
the
same way?
And here's another fun
experiment: Use candies with colored coatings over chocolate,
a paper towel, a cup, and some water
to
show what dyes are used to make the color. Moisten the paper
towel
and lay a colored candy in the center. Suspend the towel across
the
top of a bowl or cup so that it is spread out in the air. The
dyes
used to color the candy will separate into several colors. Children
will find that brown is made of red and green dye, green is
made
of
blue and yellow, and so forth.
Color Spinners
Draw a circle on white cardboard. Divide into three equal-sized
sections (like a pie). Color one red, one blue, and one green.
Cut
out the circle and put a pencil through the middle to make a
spinner. Spin the circle and describe what happens. Try
making
other wheels with different colors. Do they work the same way?
When
colors move rapidly like this, our eyes can't separate them.
They
blend!
Make Your Own Water Colors!
You'll need a tablespoon of clear vinegar, a tablespoon of baking
soda, a tablespoon of cornstarch, a half teaspoon of corn
syrup,
and
food
coloring. You will also want small plastic bottle lids to put
your
concoction in, and paintbrushes. Mix the vinegar and baking soda
in
a
bowl. When the fizzing stops, add cornstarch and corn syrup.
Mix
it all together until the paint has a cake-like consistency.
Put
the mixture into the lids and add food coloring as desired. Use
immediately, or after the cakes dry, swirl a wet brush on
them
to
use the paint.
Sing Together About Color
As you learn together about how to mix colors to make new ones,
you
can
cement the learning by singing together. Remember, the kids aren't
going to care if you have a professional-quality voice; they'll
just
remember what you are teaching that much better. Here's a song
by
an unknown author to get you going:
(Tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
If you hug blue and yellow, you make green,
If you hug blue and yellow, you make green,
If you hug these two, you'll see
A new color magically.
If you hug blue and yellow, you make green.
How many other verses can you create with your group?
And, as always, remember
that a large part of science learning is development
of self-expression. Each and every time you explore science
together, be sure to give the kids lots of opportunities
to
predict, sequence, describe and discuss. These skills are vital
to
language development!
Sandy Fleming
is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides
in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters.
Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents
in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts
and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and
children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop
her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com
