Education
Children usually prefer play that stimulates their curiosity and gives free rein to the imaginations and creativity. Incorporating loose parts into the environment will enhance their natural curiosity. –Lisa Daly and Miriam Beloglovsky Tinkergarten Color Activities Frozen colored water on white sheet Chalks/water/paintbrushes on dark sheet and other options Skittles and water Natural egg dyeing Milk, food coloring, dish soap Shaving cream and food coloring Colored ice, salt, pipettes https://loosepartsnatureplay.libsyn.com/ice-as-a-loose-part Clear cup and food coloring—wanted to put it on the overhead projector Light and color Blacklights Light table—transparent colored fabrics, papers, etc. https://loosepartsnatureplay.libsyn.com/light-painting Tissue paper that bleeds colors https://amzn.to/2NWZxS7 Watercolors on snow or ice Transparent colored dividers Self serve jars of colored water (Umbrella House—Tammy Lockwood) Paint in a plastic baggie Colored water spraying on white sheet Collage Color wheel: create out of found items/collage Color sets/sorting—Grapat Natural color wheel with colors we find in nature Lights/flashlights with colors Paint Swatches Pipettes coffee filters https://amzn.to/3sIlyCX https://amzn.to/3rbzVzu Glue/salt Marbling Liquid water colors https://amzn.to/3bacUaE Principles: Allow experimentation. Get rid of the “recipe”. Pause for observation, wonder, and awe. Follow the child’s lead. I wonder if . . . Ask children how they might extend and explore this more. What might they use next time? What other ways might they mix and explore colors? Leave materials out, if possible, to allow for additional experimentation. Document the experience with photos, journaling, and capturing the inquisitiveness. Be open to color exploration in other aspects. Let the learning emerge rather than telling how it should happen. Japanese Suminagashi: https://amzn.to/2MLxhS8 Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. –Claude Monet I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way. –Georgia O’Keefe Book Picks: Mix It Up! https://amzn.to/2NWpzVB Mixed: A colorful story https://amzn.to/3sJBTHK Loose Parts Play Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LoosePartsPlay/ Loose Parts Play Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LoosePartsPlay/ Inside Outside Michiana Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutsideMichiana/ Loose Parts Nature Play Website: http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com