I've seen tutorials on how to color rice and pasta in the past, but I've never tried it because it seemed like a lot of work. After reading the directions at Sippy Cup Central I gave it a try. It was SO easy and it turned out great!
Materials: rice, ziplock bags, food coloring, rubbing alcohol, newspaper and plastic grocery bags
1) Put the plastic bags down to protect your counter and the newspapers on top of them to soak up the rubbing alcohol as the rice dries.
3) Mix everything around in the bag and let them sit for awhile. From my experience, the longer you let the rice soak in the bag, the darker the color gets.
4) Dump the rice onto the newspaper and spread it out to dry. (In the picture above I did it wrong and had it on plastic bags and it wouldn't dry without the newspapers soaking it up.)
5) After the rice is dry have fun scooping, pouring, and experimenting with funnels and different types of containers.
The official measurements for dying 1 pound of rice (Thanks Bonna!):
1 lb. of rice
1/2 tsp. of food coloring, 1 tsp of rubbing alcohol
You can also dye the rice with seasonal colors and use it in a sensory tub to search for and transfer little objects. Short on time? Check out the sensory tubs at Time for Tots.
My kids are always happy to play with dyed rice. It's amazing how much they enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThe measurements for dying 1 pound of rice:
ReplyDelete1 lb. of rice
1/2 tsp. of food coloring
1 tsp of rubbing alcohol
Put the alcohol and food coloring in a bag together and add rice. Mix until all the color is absorbed. I have found that dumping the rice out on cookie sheets works really well. If it is a hot sun outside I put them outside to dry. Newspaper would work just as well. :)
I love the money this saves me! My daycare children love this.
For some reason, this concept is completely new to me. Looks fun. We'll have to try it.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so simple and fun too. You always have great things to share. :)
ReplyDeleteWater Colors (like coloration from Discount School Supplies) works wonders also! Plus there is little to no drying time!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of how fun colored rice can be!
Tracy
I am so glad you tried it...thanks for the link love. Karen
ReplyDeleteSippy Cup Central Mom
I like to dye rice for the children I teach. Another way I do it is use small containers which the children can then shake to colour the rice. I then put it on plastic trays and leave in the sun to dry =) I have used newspaper but found the rice got stuck to it - did you have this issue?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I have been meaning to do some colored rice for Elle's sensory tub! Kerri
ReplyDeleteFYI...you don't have to add the alcohol. The colors will mix just fine with the rice and you don't have that yucky smell. I have always made it with alcohol as well until I watched this video..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvLFr93tNqg
ReplyDelete