It’s so easy to put together easy color recognition activities, and you really don’t need a lot of materials for many of them. Today I’m sharing enough activities that will last at least a week, most likely longer. These hands-on ideas teach a variety of skills while also focusing on lots of exposure to colors. Perfect for at home or in the classroom! A Week’s Worth of Shape Recognition Activities A Week’s Worth of Alphabet Activities A Week’s Worth of Apple Learning Activities A Week’s Worth of Pumpkin Learning Activities
Mix colors using small scrub brushes for some fun process art.
Supplies: Paper, assorted paint, scrub brushes
Swirl different colors in shaving cream and watch them mix. (Natural Beach Living)
Supplies: Shaving cream, food coloring
Draw on coffee filters with primary colors and watch what happens when it gets wet. (Kitchen Table Classroom)
Supplies: Coffee filters, markers in primary colors, water
Fine Motor
Create rainbow suncatchers by pressing small pieces of tissue paper on to sticky paper.
Supplies: Paper plates, Contact Paper, pieces of colorful tissue paper
Sort objects by color and move them along the taped lines to drop them off – a great pre-writing activity. (Days with Grey)
Supplies: Duplos, felt squares, dump trucks, painters tape
Gross Motor
This motor game helps children explore colors while also building strength and coordination. (Best Toys 4 Toddlers)
Supplies: Card stock paper in different colors, felt or tissue paper, ribbon or yarn, plastic baggies, dry beans or rice
Make your own skee ball set to get the children moving while also working on sorting and color recognition. (I Can Teach My Child)
Supplies: Empty cardboard boxes, packing tape, ball pit balls, markers
Literacy
Invite your children to make their own book that focuses on the colors of the rainbow. (Fun-a-Day)
Supplies: Long white paper or cardboard, construction paper in rainbow colors, stickers in rainbow colors, and markers in rainbow colors
Uncover your children’s names with different colors of watercolor. (Fantastic Fun and Learning)
Supplies: White paper, white crayon, watercolors
Math
Sort rainbow chick peas by color (and work on fine motor skills, too!). (Play to Learn Preschool)
Supplies: Dyed chick peas, muffin tin, colored paper, magnetic tape
Make your own pipe cleaner math flags that also work on color matching. (Pocket of Preschool)
Supplies: Colored tape, colored pipe cleaners, colored pony beads
Sensory
Scoop the fish out of the water and place them in the matching bowls.
Supplies: Water bin, plastic fish, bowls the same colors as the fish, nets or cups
Put together a sensory bin of different colored items to recognize and sort. (Entertain Your Toddler)
Supplies: Plastic eggs, food lids, craft sticks, pom poms, pipe cleaners
Play Dough
Sort buttons by color and then press into playdough.
Supplies: Playdough, jumbo buttons, matching colored bowls
Color playdough with markers. (Homegrown Friends)
Supplies: White playdough, different colors of markers
Circle Time
What Color Is Your Fish? Each child holds a printable fish puppet as you identify its color.
Supplies: Free fish printable, craft sticks , tape
What Color Is Your Car? Same as the fish activity, except this uses printable car stick puppets.
Supplies: Free automobile printable, craft sticks, tape
Match the colors of the owls with a free owl printable.
Supplies: Free owl printable cards
Science
Create ice cubes in primary colors and find out what happens when two colors start thawing in the same container. (Gift of Curiosity)
Supplies: Paper cups, water, white or clear containers, liquid watercolor paints
Put together a jello and vinegar experiment for scented and colorful science fun! (Fun a Day)
Supplies: Jello powder, baking soda, vinegar, squeeze bottles
Learn about capillary action with this walking water activity. (Parenting Chaos)
Supplies: Food dye or washable watercolors, paper towels, water, clear containers
Snacks
Let the children help make a rainbow fruit salad.
Supplies: Various kitchen utensils, assorted fruit in different colors of the rainbow
Make rainbow toast using edible paint. (Holley Grainger)
Supplies: Milk, food coloring, white bread
More Easy Color Recognition Posts
Color Activity Collections Color Recognition Activities That Also Build Fine Motor Skills Toddler Sorting Activities Toddler and Preschool Color Mixing Activities Classroom Set Up Shapes and Colors Theme Rainbow Theme I am so excited to be a co-author of these color theme activity plans. 24 preschool learning activities for your colors theme, including literacy, math, science, art, fine motor, and more! A great resource for teachers and homeschoolers. CLICK HERE for more information! Here is my Privacy Policy
