Learning about Primary and Secondary Colors
Description
This is a easy experiment for kids using just a few materials to learn about colors. Fun for kids 3+ with adult supervision. Great for homeschooling or as a classroom activity too.
Materials
Ziplock Freezer Bags (quart size) recommended or other strong, clear freezer bag
Food Colors Red, Yellow and Blue
Light corn syrup
Other Materials
- Damp Paper Towels or wipes
Steps
- Fold back the top of the ziplock. This keeps the bag from getting sticky on the outside.
- Pour about an inch high of light corn syrup on the bottom of the bag.
- Drop a couple drops of one yellow on the left and blue on the right. We used two yellow drops and one blue drop.
- Unroll zip lock and if young kids are doing this experiment, zip it shut to avoid leaks.
- Squeeze the bag gently to mix the yellow and the blue drops together.
- Repeat with red and yellow and red and blue.
Tips and Suggestions
- Use freezer bags. They are easier to fold top down and keep open while pouring and the bag doesn't fold into the syrup and make a mess.
- A little goes a long way. We used only two drops of yellow and one of the blue. Use less of the darker shade.
Other Ideas
- Take pictures of the steps, print and glue onto card stock. Have children place the cards in sequential order it in sequential order.
- Print out a color wheel and fill in using crayons and markers.
- Take pictures and write a label for each and make into a book.
Scientific Processes Used
Observation
- Seeing: Pictures in a book or online.
- Hearing: and listening to directions given.
- Feeling: Feeling the corn syrup through the bag
Communication
- Oral" Explaining the experiment.
- Pictorial: Borrow a book or look online and showing pictures before your nature walk to help identify different items found