Theme & Activities

Colors
(Open thematic poster - Colors)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR

Problem solving rainbow (Open problem solving rainbow) Print, laminate and glue onto a piece of cardboard or the wall.

Sit down with the group to present the problem solving rainbow. Explain each illustration on the rainbow. The illustrations represent the steps which can help them resolve conflicts with their peers or soothe their own frustrations. Reserve a corner of the daycare for problem solving. Set up a table with two chairs, small rugs, or cushions. If you prefer, simply use colored tape to define the space. Make sure the problem solving rainbow is displayed for all to see. Make it clear that from now on, whenever there is a conflict between friends, they are to go to the problem solving corner to discuss it step by step. When they feel they have resolved the problem, they must call on you, their daycare worker, and explain the solution they have found to verify that it is in everyone's best interest.

CIRCLE TIME

Nancy Hamelin suggests an imaginary game to begin each day. (Open rainbow letter) Print the rainbow letter. Prepare a colorful envelope. Place the envelope in an easy to find place in the daycare. During circle time, have the children find the letter and read portions of the letter each day. Follow the daily instructions.

AREA SETUP

Hang multicolored miniature Christmas lights, glue pictures of various colors to the ceiling and walls, install garlands and multicolored balloons. Paint the windows with window paints. Use old gift bags of different colors, cut out the designs, laminate them and place them on the floor in the nursery for babies to explore. You can do the same in other corners also.

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

Have fun with these great workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.

Building blocks:

Instead of sorting blocks according to kind (wooden, LEGO, etc.), sort them in bins according to color
Square pieces of felt encourage children to form various constructions
Sort figurines, small cars, or any small toys by color

Arts & Crafts:

This is the perfect time to take the paint out and initiate children to different color combinations. Red and yellow = orange, Blue and red = purple, Yellow and blue = green, and what happens when we add white to primary colors or if we mix everything together?
Construction paper and all kinds of bright colored paper to cut, draw on, and promote creativity according to children's moods
Finger paint for easy color mixing
Markers with different tips (large, fine, bevel-edged, etc.) to explore colors even further
Color by number pages
Various coloring pages

Role Play:

Transform your corner into a "paint shop". Children become painters. Provide paint samples, paintbrushes, paint rollers, painting caps, and mixing sticks. Ask parents to bring in home décor magazines. Add old shirts with paint stains.
Create an artist corner with an easel and a paint palette. A few sheets of paper and there you have it!

Manipulation:

Memory game with colors
Modeling clay. Use primary colors and for once, allow children to mix the colors to see which colors they obtain. Make your own modeling clay. You will limit the cost and children will have fun for hours!
Association game with pictures and colored cards (ex. A picture of an orange and the orange card, a picture of a banana and the yellow card...)
Different sorting games using colors (with objects in the daycare)
Colored cellophane paper allows children to appreciate colors. It can be attached to the end of toilet paper rolls to create binoculars.
Lite-Brite or mosaic games are high in color

Reading/Relaxation:

Books about shapes and colors or simply books children choose because of the appealing colors

Music/Motor skills:

"Twister" style game which can be made and played with our own variations
Red light, Green light game

Sensory bins:

Water table: add a few drops of food coloring
Rocks: create a low cost multicolored rock bin with aquarium pebbles
"Froot Loops"

Science:

All science experiments which relate to colors can be used (Color explosion in milk, the flower which changes color when food coloring is added to the water, color combinations with paint, a cake frosted with colored frosting, etc.)

ACTIVITY SHEET

(Open activity sheet) Print, laminate and add to the writing corner.

PICTURE GAMES

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. There are different formats to choose from. Use the pictures to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game - colors) Print, laminate and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.

WORD FLASHCARDS

The flashcards may be used during circle time or to decorate your daycare. (Open word flashcards - colors) Red, blue, green, yellow, black, white, pink, orange, brown, gray, fuchsia, purple

ACTIVITIES

Color board game
(Open game - I know my colors)
One at a time, children roll the die and move their pawn to the corresponding color. When the die lands on a color, they must name it.

To reach the end of the game, children must roll the die and land on the color of the last space to win. You can celebrate by presenting children with a diploma. (Open diploma - I know my colors)

Color memory game
(Open memory game - colors) Print, laminate, and cut out the colored cards. Arrange the cards face down in rows. The first player turns over two cards. If they match, the player keeps them and plays again. If they do not match, they are turned over and it is the next player's turn. Make sure that all players have a chance to see the cards turned over by others. The object of the game is to find as many pairs as possible. The winner is the player with the most pairs.

Colored dominoes
(Open colored dominoes) Print, glue the pieces onto cardboard, and laminate before cutting out. This game is for 2 to 4 players. Each player picks five cards. Make a pile with the remaining cards on the table. Place one card to begin. The first player then attempts to match one of his cards to the initial card. The second player does the same and so on. If a player cannot play one of his cards, he must pick an additional one from the pile. If this card cannot be played either, it is the next player's turn. The game ends as soon as one player has emptied his hands.

Color hunt
Hide colored cards in the daycare. Show children an example of what they are searching for. Have them collect the cards one color at a time. For example, "Bring me all the blue cards." Then, "Bring me all the red cards."

Colored bubbles
Add food coloring to bubble solution and blow colorful bubbles.

Special cleanup
Have children sort the toys by color (example, red cars, blue blocks, etc.)

Colorful ice cube trays
Add a few drops of food coloring in the water and freeze. You can also insert small colorful plastic objects. Prepare several different colors. Place a plastic bin on a large towel. Add all the ice cubes and allow children to enjoy manipulating them.

Colors in the snow
Purchase small spray bottles. Fill with water and powdered paint. Go outside and have children spray on the snow.

Crazy race
Place different colored pieces of construction paper on the floor. These are references for the children. Upon your signal, they have two minutes to gather objects of the color you request and place them on the piece of paper of the corresponding color.

Colored sand
Provide children with bins filled with various colors of sand. Add pastry cutters. Children will enjoy making shapes in the sand.

Color associations
Hand out colorful bags (gift bags are ideal). Invite children to fill their bags with objects of the same color by walking around the daycare. To make this more difficult, you may use bags with two colors.

The shaking box
Use an empty egg carton. Write the numbers 1, 2, and 3, three times each in different sections of the egg carton. Color each of the remaining sections with a different color. Children place a button in the egg carton and close it. They shake the box before opening it to see in which section the button landed. They must name the color or the number of the section.

Red light, green light
Prepare round green, yellow, and red cards to represent street lights. Children walk around the daycare. Show the green card and say "Green light." Children must walk faster without running. Show the yellow card and say "Yellow light." Children must walk slowly. Display the red card and say "Red light." Children must stop and remain still. Alternate the different colors.

Colored rice or pasta bin
(To be prepared by an adult) Not for consumption.

Ingredients:

1 pint of uncooked pasta or rice
2 tablespoons of food coloring
3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol

Combine the food coloring and the rubbing alcohol in a container. Add the pasta or rice and close the container. Gently shake it. Be sure to cover all the pasta or rice with color. Spread the pasta or rice in a single layer on a baking sheet and let dry for several hours.

Arrange the pasta or rice in bins by color or in one multicolored bin. Children will have fun with figurines or pouring the pasta or rice in various containers.

Musical colors
Give children three different colored crayons (red, yellow, and green) and paper. Select music with a variety of rhythms (fast, medium, slow). Children must draw with the color which best represents the rhythm of the music (green for fast, yellow for medium, and red for slow).

EARLY SCIENCE

(Open color combinations) Print and laminate. Place it in full view for the children. Present them with glasses of water, food coloring and small spoons. They use the material to create colors through various combinations.

Make a rainbow using a flashlight, water, and a mirror. Plunge the mirror into the water. Light the limit between the water and the mirror with the flashlight and search for the image of a rainbow with a sheet of paper. Observe the decomposition of the light on the paper.

Colored celery

Place in colored water a branch of celery with its leaves. The leaves will turn the same color as the water.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Colorful lunch
Throughout the week, add a few drops of food coloring to various foods

(ex. Shepherd's pie with blue potatoes, green milk, pink vanilla pudding, etc.)

Paint recipe
Combine corn syrup with food coloring.

ARTS & CRAFTS

The rainbow (group project)
Draw a rainbow on a large piece of cardboard. Cut out small pieces of construction paper for all the colors of the rainbow. Children glue the pieces of paper in the correct arch of the rainbow (depending on the color).

Mixed colors
Children paint freely. The goal is to create new colors by mixing them.

Colors of the rainbow

Use tactile paper. Children color with waxed crayons using colors which can be found in rainbows. Have them paint over the crayon with black paint. Allow to dry completely. Once dry, children trace over the black paint to discover the rainbow colors beneath.

Paint bubbles
Add a few drops of food coloring to prepared bubble solution. Children create a bubble blower with a pipe cleaner. Provide them with a sheet of white paper and have them blow bubbles onto it. This will create a beautiful pastel picture.

Colorful world
Children paint or color two toilet paper rolls the color of their choice. Make binoculars by gluing them together. Punch two small holes on either side and insert a cord. Add cellophane paper to the ends. Children will see everything in color! They may keep them around their necks.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages for theme - colors)

SEQUENTIAL STORY

(Open sequential story - colors) Print, laminate and cut out.
Children must place the story in the correct order.

SONGS & RHYMES

Rainbow, rainbow

By: Patricia Morrison

Sung to: Twinkle, twinkle little star

Rainbow, rainbow in the sky
How I love your colors so bright
Blue and yellow, green between
Orange and red are also seen
Rainbow, rainbow in the sky
How I love your colors so bright

Baa Baa black sheep
Have you any wool
Yes sir, yes sir
Three bags full

Repeat with other colors absent in the rainbow song such as white, gray, brown, etc.

SPECIAL DAY

We suggest organizing a special day during the color theme week using one of the suggestions below.

Special Color Day (Open perpetual calendar - color day)

Greeting: Children must bring something of their favorite color from home. You may also decide to have a green day or a red day....

Circle time: Discussion about colors. Children name their favorite colors.

Lunch and snacks: Plates filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, food coloring in milk, etc.

Special activity: Activities with modeling clay, science experiment with food coloring or paint,

color combinations...

Black & White Day (Open perpetual calendar-black and white day)

Greeting: Children come dressed in black and/or white. Greet them with a white (Santa) or black (witch) wig.

Circle time: Use makeup to paint children's faces black and white like pandas.

Lunch and snacks: Play a guessing game. Place salt and pepper shakers on the table. Children must guess which is which. Children can search for black and white in their plates.

Special activity: Paint children's faces black and white. Have fun finding black and white objects in the daycare. Mix black and white paint. Draw with white chalk on a black piece of cardboard.

Have a great week!

Have nice day!

Educatall team

Our job is to make yours easier. Do not hesitate to suggest themes you would like to see us develop. Let us know of any printable documents or tools which could be useful. Send us your comments and suggestions!

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