Ingredients
- 8 ice cubes, about 1 inch each (frozen in a standard ice tray)
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 tablespoon blue food coloring
- 1 tablespoon yellow food coloring (optional for a third color)
- 3 tablespoons warm water (used to dilute the colors)
- 6 sheets of thick white watercolor paper, 9 inches by 12 inches
- 3 shallow bowls, 3 to 4 inches wide (one for each color)
- 1 small silicone ice cube tray (optional)
- 1 plastic tablecloth or 1 drop cloth, at least 4 feet by 6 feet
- 1 roll of paper towels
- 1 old kitchen towel, about 16 inches by 24 inches
- 1 pair of child-size smocks or 2 old adult T-shirts
- 1 pair of washable child-safe scissors (optional)
- 1 shallow baking sheet, about 9 inches by 13 inches
- 1 pair of reusable household gloves (optional for adult cleanup)
Instructions
- Cover the table before you set out the water or color.
- Freeze 8 ice cubes in a clean ice tray for 4 to 6 hours or until completely solid.
- Place the plastic tablecloth or drop cloth over the work table.
- Set the shallow baking sheet in the center, then place one sheet of watercolor paper inside it.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of red food coloring, 1 tablespoon of blue food coloring, and 1 tablespoon of yellow food coloring into three separate shallow bowls.
- Add 1 tablespoon of warm water to each bowl and stir slowly.
- Put on the smocks or old T-shirts. Give each child a towel within reach.
- Take 2 ice cubes from the freezer and place them in the red color dish, rolling each cube gently through the color.
- Set the colored ice cubes onto the paper and let the child manipulate them to create designs.
- Repeat with the blue and yellow colors using the remaining ice cubes.
- Observe the color movement and let the sheet dry for 1 to 3 hours or until no longer cool or damp.
- Rinse the bowls and baking sheet with warm water, wipe the tablecloth, wash the towels and smocks, and let the finished papers dry.
Notes
This activity is best for toddlers who can safely explore with close adult supervision. The process is about the experience of making, rather than achieving a perfect outcome.
- Prep Time: 240 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
