This color matching activity is perfect for preschoolers. Most toddlers will try to eat the lentils (which will likely be spat out) and if you are as lucky as me, they will manage to grab the bowl full of lentils and pour them on your kitchen floor!
Garden Color Matching Activity
- Gather your materials. You will need a few different colors of construction paper, some glue, scissors, a pen, and of course, some dried beans or lentils.
- Draw a simple flower on one piece of construction paper, then layer your other pieces under it and cut them all at once.
- Have your child glue the flowers on a full piece of paper.
- Drizzle glue all over the flowers and then add your lentils. I chose to match the colors and use this activity as an opportunity to teach about colors. Simply allowing your child to choose which lentils or beans should go where is great, too!
- After your have finished gluing on the lentils, you can add stems and leaves or anything else you think will complete the artwork!
Little hunk of mud
Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud!
Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud!
I’d be ooey , I’d be gooey on everybody’s shoey,
Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud!
Additional activities
Pouring is fun!
As my son pointed out quite clearly, toddlers love to scoop and pour. There is no reason to limit your child to the sand in the sandbox or water in the tub! I got these lentils in the bulk section of my supermarket and they are great. They are too small to be a real choking hazard and are naturally colorful. So grab a bowl and some measuring cups and then let your toddlers explore the sounds of the lentils falling from a cup and feel how smooth they are in their hands!
Jen says
So cute–both your son and the activity. Please, I beg you, do not delete your blog for at least 5 years! I MUST find a way to save these activities for my daughter!
Your little boy is lucky to have such a great mom!
Jen
Shelley says
My daughter watched that little song about 30 times today! She gets so tickled everytime!
AVT Coach says
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Jenn and Tyler says
You are so hilarious! We would be great friends! I love this post, and I love the song you sang and your facial expressions are priceless in your video. I am so happy someone like you has a blog like yours. I have sat down with my kids almost every day since finding your blog and we’ve had some fun projects to do. Thanks so much! Please don’t stop! I just wish there was a way to really show my appreciation.
teachingtinytots says
really cute i wish i could find red lentils all i have is green and brown!
farleece says
We played with lentils today! My son loved pouring them in little containers but the real treat was getting to use the dustbuster to sweep them up! I’ve put the rest in a little glad container for another rainy day.
Thanks!
Meredith and Leo
Erica says
My kids LOVE that song, we sing it a lot now, thanks!!
Allie says
Erica- IS that a good thing or a bad thing ? I know I am sick to tears of Old McDonald, it’s my son’s favorite, it is not mine!
Jenny says
We LOVED this activity! My daughter is 3, and she is having a blast! We did the flowers, and now we are using an old dish tub as a sensory tub and she is having a great time with it! It’s been a great learning opportunity for us to introduce new words, colors and activities. Thank you for this wonderful blog!!!
Anna says
Thanks for this great idea! I blogged about it here:
http://www.themeasuredmom.com/letter-f-crafts/
aysha says
I really admire these activities. Iam also a kindergarten teacher and I always need of new ideas . Thanks