Colored Gelatin Game

A project wherein the visual aides "are" the project. Used with flashlights, this project is easy to set up and easy to clear away.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 can match or name the 3 primary colors Lang. IB
and ages 2 ½-3 can name one color Lang. IB
All children participating can determine what new color can be made from two primary colors.

Materials

Colored plastic gelatin pieces, made from 3x5 pieces of gelatin (or colored plastic wrap) with masking tape on the edges. Get 6-8 different colors, including primary colors, with 3 or 4 of each color. The gelatin may be obtained from a stage lighting, photography, or art supply store. Colored plastic or cellophane gift wrap mounted in cardboard frames may be substituted-- less durable, but also less expensive.

Procedures

1. Settle group of children at a small table or in a quiet corner of the room. Put out the gels and let the children play with them for a few minutes.

2. Then ask each child to pick up a red one and make them into glasses. “What color is everything now?" Let them take turns finding something around the room that is really red. Repeat with various colors.

3. Let children choose two primary colored gels, put them together, and look through them at a light or window. What happens? What color did they see? Repeat with other combinations of primary colors. See if the children can remember what colors result from various combinations.

4. Leave the gels in a box in the classroom for children to play with on their own.