Color Theory Experiments

Spring fever has set in our classroom - big time! The kids are full of energy and excitement and noise. :) We need activities and lessons that match their energy levels, and these color experiments are perfect. Exploring color theory and experimenting with colors never gets old. Even my own older kids want to try it. Here are 3 fun, hands-on color experiments that are super simple to set up, and are guaranteed to keep the kids interested.

Turkey Baster Mixing
We set this experiment up in our sensory table, but it would also work outside with tubs of water. There are 3 containers of colored water (red, yellow, and blue), lots of empty smaller containers, dollar store turkey basters, and a big "dump" bucket. I put a cheap shower curtain liner and some beach towels on the floor, just in case!

The students work on strengthening their hand muscles as they use the turkey basters to transfer and mix the water in the table. It looks like this in action:

Ice Cube Trays
This experiment is similar to the one above, but on a smaller scale. Again, there are 3 dishes of primary colored water. Students use little pipettes and their fine motor muscles to make new colors in an empty ice cube tray.

Walking Water
This third color experiment does not give the immediate gratification of the first two, but is sure to impress the class the next morning! To set it up, we recount all of the things that we know about mixing colors and about absorption. Then, we filled 2 pitchers with colored water. The students rolled a clean, dry paper towel and placed one end in the water and the other end in an empty bowl.

Surprise! The next morning when the students arrived the middle bowl was full of water! It was a great way to make a hypothesis and then wait to discover the results.

Each of these experiments requires just containers, water and food coloring. They are quick to set up, but are engaging enough to keep the students busy and learning for a long time.

You can read more about the color experiments we do at Play to Learn Preschool here.

Have fun playing and learning with your children today!