Olivia has been working so hard on learning her colors that now we are ready to start mixing colors together to make new colors. We experimented with mixing colors together two different ways.

Activity 1: Paint in a Bag

Materials needed:

• Paint
• Zip close bag
• White card stock paper (optional)

Directions:

1. If you are using paper, trim paper to fit the size of zip close bag and place paper inside zip close bag. This step is optional.
2. Add two different colored paints inside the bag. Separate the colors so that there is one color on each side of the bag. Seal the bag tightly. You may also want to tape the opening close as well.
3. Before you give the paint bag to your child, talk about the two colors they see inside the bag.
4. Give the paint bag to your child to squish and mix the two paints together. Talk about what they are noticing. What is the new color they are seeing? What do those two color paints make?
5. Optional Fill out the Color Mixing worksheet to record the new colors you make.
6. Repeat these steps with other colors of paint to mix up new colors.

This is a great activity for all ages including babies! They won’t understand the color mixing part, but they will enjoy the sensory experience of squishing the paint bag

Activity 2: Water Color Mixing

Materials needed:

• Clear cups, white paint tray or ice cube tray
• Food Coloring (at least the primary colors)
• Water
• Pipettes
• Spoon, straw, or other stir stick

If you don’t have food coloring, you can also use colored tissue paper to dye the water different colors.

Directions:

1. Add water to the clear or white containers.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring or a few squares of a single color of tissue paper to each container with water. Stir disperse color quicker. After the water has turned the desired color, remove tissue paper if using.
3. Using pipettes, mix two colors together. You may want to mix the two colors together in a third, empty container. Talk about the colors that are being mixed together. What color is the water turning as you mix the two colors together?
4. Optional Fill out the Color Mixing worksheet to record the new colors you make.
5. Continue mixing different colors together. How many new colors can you make?

** Note: You can find the Color Mixing worksheet here for free **

Benefits

• Fine motor skills
• Social Skills
• Language Development
• Following Directions
• Focus
• Early Science Exploration