Color Wheel Twist: A Matching Game

Do you have little ones at home?  Do they eat baby food that comes in the little pouches?  I couldn't help notice that caps for baby food pouches came in all the colors necessary to explore primary and secondary colors.  I invented a way to use the caps in a game that could be used as extension activity for my book Three Ghost Friends: Learn About Colors .  This activity is designed for children ages 2-4, who are learning colors, but are no longer putting items in their mouth.  The pieces used in this activity require adult supervision.

What you will need:
1. Cardboard box -- I used a Medium Flat Rate Priority Mail Box from a recent delivery
2. Download the two game board sheets - color wheel and color words
3. Caps from baby food pouches -- red, blue, yellow, purple, green, and orange - 6 total caps
4. 12 nozzles from the baby food pouches
5. packaging tape
6. box cutter
7. scissors

You will need to collect and rinse the baby food pouch caps and nozzles. All colors are available. I found them easiest at Target.

The nozzles can be cut out of the baby food pouch.  The nozzles are easily rinsed to remove any left over food by running them under the faucet.

Once you have all the caps and nozzles, it is time to build your game board.  Download the two game board sheets (color wheel and color words) and print.  I used packaging tape to adhere them to my box.  Glue could also be used. 

I used a box cutter to cut out the rectangular shapes on the game board papers.  Cut all the way through the paper and the cardboard.

Once the rectangles have been cut, then push the nozzles up through the box and secure in place. Some nozzles popped right in place and others I needed to work with a little more.  But, I was quite pleased how secure the nozzles were in the box.

This picture shows a secure nozzle.

Once the nozzles are secure, then your child can play.  It is up to you how you use the game.  You can start the caps on the color wheel and then move to the caps to color words or vice versa.

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Three Ghost Friends: Learn About Colors at Amazon.com!

Also, available as eBooks for iPad/iPhone and Kindle.