Color Mixing

Color mixing is an activity that you would find in most Montessori classrooms.  I had not yet put it out this school year, however.  Recently I came across this great little color wheel activity on Mama Jenn's blog and thought it would be awesome for setting up as an independent activity.  First I copied the color wheel from Mama Jenn on white cardstock and laminated it.  Then I added 3 eye dropper jars with red, yellow, and blue colored water, a jar of toothpicks, a sponge and sponge holder, a basket of paper towels, and a jar with a pencil.  This work is set up on a table as shown below.

 

To do this work, the child first takes a paper towel and uses the pencil to write their name at the bottom.  They then replace the paper towel in the basket to use later.  Next, they use the eye droppers to transfer droplets of water onto the corresponding colored dots on the color wheel template as shown in the photo below.

After the water droplets are transferred, they use a toothpick to stir the drops together to mix the colors as shown below.  Instead of using a new toothpick for each circle, I just showed them to wipe the toothpick on the sponge after each mixing.

Once all the colors have been stirred they carefully place the paper towel on top.

The result is a color wheel that they have created and that they may take home.  How cool is that?  I love this work and the children do too.  A final step is to use the sponge to wipe all remaining water droplets off the template.

  
   
 
 

Comments

[Laura]

Thanks! Best of luck to you as well.
Take care,
Laura

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[Laura]

My kids are still loving it too!

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[Laura]

Glad you liked the idea. Thanks so much for writing!

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[Laura]

Great! Im glad you liked this idea. Thanks so much for writing!
Take care,
Laura

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[Laura]

Thanks so much for writing. I truly appreciate your comment.
Take care,
Laura

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[Montessori Print Shop]

What a terrific blog you have! Keep up the great work spreading the joys of Montessori.

[Lisa]

Laura,
The kids loved this work. Thank you so much!
Take care,
Lisa,in Connecticut

[Nicole]

What great timing - I was just thinking last night that Short Pants would enjoy another color mixing lesson soon - thanks!

[Early Childcare Resources]

What an awesome idea... I will be sure of it that I will be implementing this activity hopefully very soon in my Montessori classroom...

[EV]

Well done - not only in extending the color mixing work but in the set-up of the materials as well.

[Anna]

Great idea!

[Evelyn]

Thanks for this post. My 3 yo is fascinated by colors at this time. We did something similiar here:
http://2pequenostraviesos.blogspot.com/2010/04/montessori-madness-part-ii.html

He had so much fun!!!
Warmly,
Evelyn

[Laura]

Thanks for writing, Gigi. Its good to hear from you. Hope your new little one is doing well. You can order the little bottles and droppers (plastic or glass droppers......I ordered plastic because our glass ones all broke!) from Montessori Services. They are very reasonably priced. Take care,
Laura

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[Laura]

Youre welcome, Melva. Ivehad this out for a week and its going really well. Overall, the children are very independent and are having good success. Thanks for writing!

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[Gigi]

This is a great set-up! I have tried before to find those little bottles but have not had any luck. I see them online but wondered if they have them at a local craft or teacher store? Thank you!

[Melva]

Laura, I LOVE this set up. I have never had a successful set up for colour mixing independently like this so I will be trying my own version soon. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful set up.