Part B A FUN DAY OF COLOUR Jan Homden Consilium Education
Activities for your day of colour I would divide the children in the class or year group into groups and during the day/morning each group could visit e.g. 6 activities - 5 of which would be adult led (teacher, TA, parent) and one activity where the children could choose to have their face painted (by an adult) or experiment with the rice in the sand tray or have fun with water beads and guttering. I ve included 7 possible art/craft activities you could select from. By combining the face painting with an independent free play activity the children are not queueing to have their face painted.
Printing with feet To have this activity outside would be good. Tape roll of paper to the floor Shoes and socks off 2 basins/trays (one of soapy water and one of clean water) for children to step into and clean their feet before putting on socks & shoes again Towels to dry their feet Long roll of paper and paper tape trays of different coloured paint Place trays of paint at one end of the paper roll and trays of soapy water and towels at the other Child to select the colour of paint and step into it. They walk along the roll of paper leaving their footprints behind and then step into the soapy water, into the clean water, towel dry their feet before putting on their socks and shoes. Blowing Bubbles Outside on a sunny day children love to blow and chase bubbles. The colours visible in bubbles come from light reflecting on the bubbles surface. You can see through them, yet you can also see bright colours. Bubbles not only involve children in learning, but they are fun, easy to use, and ever-changing. In addition, many science processes such as investigation, discovery, experimentation, observation, definition, comparison, and classification can be learned simply by playing with bubbles. From: Early Childhood News
TRY THIS RECIPE FOR BUBBLE MIX - H OMEMADE GI AN T BUBBL ES RECI P E Author: Happy Hooligans Click on the picture to follow the link I NG REDIENT S 6 cups water (distilled is best, but tap is fine) ½ cup blue Dawn (liquid) dish detergent (NON ultra, original works best), (UK - Fairy Liquid) ½ cup corn starch (known as cornflour in the UK) 1 tbsp. baking POWDER 1 tbsp. glycerine I N ST RUCTIONS 1. Dissolve the corn starch in water, stirring really well. 2. Gently stir in remaining ingredients. 3. Avoid creating a lot of froth. 4. Allow mixture to sit for at least an hour before playing with it. 5. You can stir very gently if you see ingredients settling on the bottom of your container. 6. Even as we played with ours, some powder settled, but it was fine. 7. Avoid creating froth when playing with the mixture 8. Overcast/humid conditions are best. Wind, dry air and sunlight will wick the moisture out of your bubbles. Making bubble wands Uploaded by Stacy Williamson from: simplekidscrafts.com Click on the picture to follow the link Make your own bubble wands. (Doubt bubbles cooperate completely with shapes but fun, particularly if you use homemade bubble solutions) or Make them from craft sticks and pipe cleaners click on the picture to follow the link to Toddler Approved
Fence Weaving If you have a fence surrounding your playground area brighten it up on colour day! Click on the picture to follow the link to pinterest Great for individual or collaborative group work and nimble fingers will enjoy choosing their material to weave or tie on to the fence. Leave containers with ribbon, wool, strips of fabric cutoffs, pipe-cleaners, crepe paper streamers, strips cut from recycled plastic bags, recycled netting from veggies, etc. Weaving through a Rainbow Click on the picture below to follow the link How about this great idea for active early year s children from Deborah J. Stewart at Teach Preschool Get them moving with colourful rolls of crepe streamers as they weave a rainbow through equipment (chairs, easels, trolleys, etc.) that you have set up in a space. Each group to continue the weave. Lots of stepping over, crawling under, around and through as they negotiate the space.
3D Paper Sculpture Show your group/class how to bend, fold, curl and overlap the paper strips to create a fantastic 3D sculpture on black cartridge paper. Leave them to be creative with washable glue and strips of different coloured craft paper. This paper sculpture was created by Alexis in the Kindergarten at Arlington Park Elementary. Rolling pin painting You can purchase all kinds of fun rolling pins for young children to experiment with but just a plain old fashioned rolling pin, washable paint children can squirt from plastic bottles and a roll of paper taped to the table is all you need for them to learn about colour mixing. Image from: Casa Maria's Creative Learning Zone
Abstract Art Absorbent kitchen rolls Plastic pots of brightly coloured food colouring (add 10 drops of food colouring to a cup and mix in 4 tablespoons of water) Plastic droppers or pipettes - To purchase from Amazon -click on the pictures below to follow the links Cover a long table with plastic and roll out lengths of kitchen paper securing them with tape. Children fill the pipettes with food colouring and drop it on to the kitchen roll. As the children have fun investigating and watching the colours spread into each other they learn about colour mixing. Click on the pictures to follow the link to Maria Wynne - Casa Maria's Creative Learning Zone
A Colourful Short Story Click on the picture to follow the link Pre-schoolers will enjoy the strange creatures that keep popping up! Billy and Splodge are in a spaceship visiting lots of colourful planets. The Splendor of Color Kaleidoscope set to music Click on the picture to follow the link Children are often fascinated by the changing shapes and colours of a kaleidoscope. A Circle Time Game to finish For the 3-4 year olds revise colours Depending on the number of children in your class, everyone needs a piece of paper with a colour on it. You need 2 pieces of paper with the same circle for colour 2 2 2 and so on so two children are holding the same colour. For the 4 5 year olds revise colour names As for above but the pieces of paper have a colour name written on it - 2 red 2 green, 2 blue etc. Take the children outside and form a circle. Give out the pieces of paper. As you call out a colour the two children with that colour have to run and swap places. As they get better call out 2 colours and have 4 children, or 3 colours and 6 children swapping places - on second thoughts.
Prepare a colourful lunch Ideas from The Fit Fork - Click on the picture to follow the link The children can make up their own plate of salad from a selection of healthy options. In the course of the morning a group of parents could assist with each group of children as they prepare the salads. Add tortillas and show the children how to wrap up their veggies. Have a great Day of Colour!