Toddler Activities: Learn about Rainbows

Description

Toddler Activities: Learn about the colors of the Rainbow and make a Marshmallow Rainbow

Materials

• Colored Mini Marshmallows

• Non Toxic Tacky Craft Glue (Elmers is not be strong enough to hold the marshmallows well)

• White or Light Colored Piece of Construction Paper (to print rainbow on)

• Free printable template for the Marshmallow Rainbow

• 2 Cotton Balls per child

Other Materials

• Small containers, plates or muffin tin or egg containers to sort marshmallows

• Markers

• Gallon ziplock to keep or send child's project home. (optional)

Steps

• Print out Rainbow on White or light colored Construction paper
• Have your child color the first 4 colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green) All bags of colored marshmallows that I have seen come in four colors. The pink marshmallows will be the red.
• Sort marshmallows by color in small containers.
• Put a couple thick lines of glue in each "ray".
• Put on the marshmallows.
• Pull each cotton ball into several pieces. Glue cotton on the clouds.
• Let dry flat.

Tips and Suggestions

• If you prefer, write the colors on each row for your child. Writing each color in the matching marker color will help remind your child which color to use.
• Put glue on only one row at a time. It is best to work with one color at a time or fingers will get messy with glue. We found it easier to work from the inner color to the outer color.
• Washed empty applesauce containers or muffin tins or egg cartons work well for sorting.
• Cut the paper prior to activity to 8.5 x 10.5 inches and it will fit nicely into a gallon ziplock storage bag. It will keep the marshmallows nice and offers a way to take the project home if made in school.

Educational Notes

A rainbow spans a continuous spectrum of colours. It's a phenomenon which causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the sun shines on droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. Its colors are best remembered by the mneumonic Roy G. Biv. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.

Scientific Processes

Observation

• Seeing and matching the marshmallows to the colors of the rainbow
• Hearing and listening to directions given.

Communication

• Oral Explanation of what a rainbow is and the colors in one.
• Pictorial Showing pictures of rainbows in a book or online
• Organizing
• Sequencing the marshmallows in order
• Grouping marshmallows and sorting by color