Get ready to watch your little guys turn into full-blown scientists as they potter around their very own colour laboratory. While this experiment has been designed to suit preschoolers, it can be modified to challenge older age groups too. The main objective of this casual yet educational activity is to firstly; introduce the little ones to the wonderful world of science, and secondly, to teach these young students about colours and how they change when mixed. This activity prompts kids to problem solve and make use of their senses too.
If you are a playgroup or kindergarten teacher, you can plan this activity for the kids in your class, or if you are a parent then this is an excellent way to pass some time outdoors over weekends or during school holidays. The apparatus and materials required are simple (and easy on the pocket) and the prep-work is easy (clean up time might be a bit of a mission though, but you can get the little critters involved here too)!
Science For The Little Guys: A Colour Laboratory
Get ready for some good, "clean" and educational fun! The first thing you need to do before prepping the colour lab is to make sure you have a warm and sunny day ahead of you, since this bit of fun is best done outdoors (expect a sticky mess)!
To start, gather the following items:
- You’ll need a table or raised surface which your kids can work at
- Liquid soap
- A variety of pump bottles, syringes, spray bottles, medicine droppers and the likes
- Ice trays, preferably transparent or white
- Spoons
- Measuring spoons
- A mixture of Tupperware
- Water
- A variety of food colouring colours
The Experiment:
Prepare the “laboratory” by filling up the pump and spray bottles with water, some of the liquid soap and a dash of food colouring.
Let the kids discover their lab and allow them to explore (you can do a few demonstrations too). The kids can go crazy with their lab and set up. Encourage them to squirt, shake, spray and stir the coloured water. Let them mix different coloured water and show them how new colours can be made. They can practice motor skills by heaving the bottles, adjusting nozzles, opening caps and squirting sprayers.
Little hands will figure out how to grasp and carry wet, slippery and bulky containers, without spilling or dropping them. Through trial and error, they’re learning out how to pour the correct amount to fill a container, controlling their motions. Entry level science skills of note!
You can go a step further and add some bubble blowers to the mix too and the preschoolers can blow bubbles with their coloured soapy water. There's tons of things you can add to this activity and like I mentioned above, it can be adapted to be more challenging for older kids.
Source link: https://happyhooligans.ca/colour-laboratory/
This is also an excellent way to help the kids cool down if you are experiencing a hot summers day. Let them wear their swim clothes and they can spray each other with water while the explore their laboratories and indulge in colourful play!
Much love - 
