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This no mess color mixing activity was a great way to engage my kids in some color science. They got to select paint colors to mix together and observe the resulting colors. Plus, they got a lot of exercise with this activity as well!
Note: For more fun ideas to help kids learn their colors, see my Teaching Colors to Kids page.
Although we normally drink tap water, we recently took home a ton of left over bottled water after a party we attended.
After squeezing in their paint, the kids screwed the lids back on. My husband and I doubled checked that this had been done well before we let the kids move on to the next step, for reasons that should soon be quite apparent. 🙂
Once the cap was on, the kids started shaking the bottles as hard as they could to mix the colors together.
Of course, this was more fun to do standing up rather than sitting down. The kids were so active that my camera was not able to catch a non-blurry photo of them. 🙂
After shaking the bottles, the kids checked out the new colors they had made. Here, QBoy saw what happened when he mixed red and orange paint together.
The end result of all their mixing was a very pretty array of bottles. And, fortunately, virtually no mess. 🙂
More resources for teaching colors
More posts about colors from Gift of Curiosity:
- Teaching colors through play
- Rainbow do-a-dot printable
- Color matching with household objects
- Color theory activity
- Ideas for teaching colors
- Color mixing rainbow challenge
- Color mixing science
For more activities that teach colors, see my Teaching Colors to Kids page and my Learning Colors Pinterest board.
Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Learning Colors on Pinterest.
This is a great idea, using plastic bottles. I have been saving a small amount of the smaller sized ones (something I NEVER do) because I had a feeling I would be able to use them – I will have to remember this!
That does look a fun way to mix colours – and a good way to recycle the bottles.
This looks like such a fun activity! We are learning about rainbows all month long so we will have to try this out. Thanks for the great ideas!
What a great way to use those bottles and a fun way to mix colors. My girls LOVE color mixing activities! Next time we come across a bunch of plastic bottles we are so doing this! Thanks for sharing on We Made That!
Great idea to keep the mess away, learn about color, and get some energy out with tall the shaking! Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
I love the happy looks on your children’s faces as they mixed the colours. I have lots of blurry photos like that too – they’re among my favourites – evidence of so much fun!
Lucinda (visiting via Hammock Tracks)
ps sorry, I meant visiting via Highhill Homeschool! Lucinda
A lovely array of colour and plenty of fun too (visiting via Hobbies & Handicrafts)
That’s a great activity for learning about color mixing.
Looks like they had a great time!
Thanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Oh wow! Awesome (mess free lol) way to teach primary and secondary colors!
Featured you on Mom’s Library this week!
Did you use the paint for arts and crafts? I would do the mixing then let them paint with it
No, we ended up just throwing them away eventually. 🙂
This is so clever! Lots of great learning opportunities and sensory. Thank you for sharing. Pinned.
Thank you so much for this idea. I am trying this with special needs kids and kinder garters!