This activity has been a favorite at our house for a while. Over the summer, I dyed two boxes of uncooked pasta to use in our sensory bin. And guess what….we are STILL using them, in so many different ways. This is such a playful activity and your kids will get a kick out of playing with their food. Mine sure do.
Another bonus, pasta is cheap and comes in SO many different shapes and sizes…bow ties, spirals, elbows, ziti. Dye a few different shapes and talk about what is the same and what is different. It does take a while for the pasta to dry out once you soak them in the vinegar/dye solution, but once they do, your kids will want to play with them over and over again. The possibilities are endless: counting, sorting, crafts and fun. Let your child’s imagination soar.
Shopping List/Directions:
-Dry, uncooked pasta
-Vinegar
-Food coloring (liquid or gel)
-Large ziplock bags
-Wax paper/cookie sheet/tray
1. Separate the pasta into various zip lock bags (I used gallon-sized bags…1 for each color) and place on a cookie sheet or in the sink in case of leaks.
2. Add a few splashes of vinegar and mix in the food coloring. Shake it up! The color really soaks in, so you’ll need to use quite a bit.
3. Let everything soak and watch as the pasta begins to absorb the colors. The longer they sit, the deeper and more vibrant the colors will be.
4. Drain out the liquid and dry the pasta on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or on a tray.
Extension activities/creative play ideas:
Wooden scoops and silicone muffin cups
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Alphabet Soup
A construction site of feathers and colorful pasta
Vertical lines for St. Patrick’s Day!
