Drip-Drop Tie-Dye

As a follow-up to my Color-Mixing activity (which has been HUGELY popular with my students), I decided to set up a little colored water droppering work.  It is very similar to the color mixing work.......a basket of paper towels (I found that this activity works better with a higher-quality paper towel such as Bounty instead of the generic ones I usually use), bottles of primary colored water, pencil for writing name, sponge for cleaning up afterwards, and a little suction cup soap pad.  (NOTE:  I don't know a source for these.......I've looked and haven't come up with anything.  If you find a source, please email me or leave a comment with a link.  THANKS!)

To do this work, the child places droplets of water onto the suction pad in any pattern they wish as shown below.

Then they carefully place a paper towel on top to create the tie-dyed effect shown below.  The sponge is then used to absorb any remaining bits of water and the paper towel is placed on the drying rack.

 
 

Comments

[Suz Flee]

I'm using some bathtub safety suction cups I found at Bed Bath and Beyond. Came in a pack of 6 with a flower shape.

[Rachel]

I love the commenter who suggested fabric dye... I wonder if it would work or if it would separate with the water and not "tie-dye" - fascinating. We want some hankies for the kids... this might be a fun hankie making project.

[Lori N from MN]

I've been searching for these once common soap holders since reading this post in May, and have finally found a source at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014XELTI/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002VA9OE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0CNYAPKRQ84CK1NX6C83

Hope this helps! (The price is right, on sale now for mere pennies, but the shipping kills is ridiculous!)

[Laura]

Thanks, Kara!Im glad you popped over! Take care,
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Kara]

Hopped over here from 1+1+1=1 and just have to say how neat I think this is :-)

We'll be giving this one a try at our house soon. Thanks for sharing!

[Laura]

I would like to try it with coffee filters. Another person mentioned that. We have hadreally good luck with the heavy paper towels too.
Thanks for writing!
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Anna]

I like the idea of using the suction cup for an extension - even more concentration and fine motor skills used. I've done a similar work in my classroom before, and used coffee filters (the white ones that open out flat).

[Laura]

Thanks, Carisa!! I have been LOVING your new preschool posts. Thanks so much for YOUR generous sharing of your work and ideas. Take care,
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Hey! Great to hear from you!! Thanks for writing!

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Im sure that would work too.

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Melva,
The children have LOVED this work so much. And their creations are so lovely. Thanks for writing!
Laura

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[Carisa]

Oooh, I LOVE this!!!!

[Annicles]

Very cool. I love it. Thanks.

[rm (rainbowmummy)]

Awesome!

Do you reckon you could do it with fabric dye too, give the kinds a handkerchief or something to take home. (Not that I have ever tried fabric dye with Egg :P)

[Melva]

Laura, these are beautiful! I can just imagine the concentration that develops in dropping the coloured water onto the little suction cups. As to a source for the soap pads, I found mine at the dollar stores - at several different ones. I have only used mine with dry materials (beads/pompoms) but I will try this as soon as I can get some paper towels (our school only has very thin industrial ones and the local stores are limited in their brands). Thanks for another brilliant idea.

[Colleen]

Cool work! My sons would enjoy doing this work.
Thanks for sharing.
Colleen