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Craft Stick Color Toss Sorting Game

When it comes to teaching children their primary colors, many parents are used to using flash cards, repetitive books or just pointing out items throughout their home and community. These are tried and true methods that are known to work, but they aren’t exactly fun and exciting. They are also pretty basic and serve only to teach one specific skill to the child in question.

I’m a big believer in teaching kids as many skills as possible whenever doing an activity, so if I take the time to create a new game or fun craft, I want it to be useful in more than one way. That’s why I love this craft stick color toss sorting game.

This game helps to teach young children their basic primary colors of red, yellow and blue (with a bonus green!), which is a wonderful way to introduce them to their colors.

In addition, it helps them learn association skills. Matching color to color is an important early learning skill for young children. Organizing items into categories is an important part of their development that can help them with cognitive skills they will need for the future.

Finally, dropping or tossing the craft sticks into the correct boxes will help them develop good hand-eye coordination, an essential skill that encourages dexterity and spatial awareness.

>> CHECK OUT THIS COLOR SORTING GAME IDEA FOR MORE FUN <<

Here’s what you’ll need for this craft

  • a heavyweight cardboard box that measures about 14” x 14” at the bottom and 2” high (a pizza box works well for this project.)
  • 2 pieces of cardboard that are 7” x 2”
  • Another piece of cardboard that is 14” x 2”
  • a craft knife
  • Scissors
  • Pen
  • Glue gun
  • Duct tape
  • 16 large craft sticks
  • 4 different colors of paint (red, yellow, blue and green)
  • Small sized sponge paint brush

Measure inside the box so that you have 4 squares that are all the same size (7” x 7”). Use the ruler to make measurement lines.

Use the glue gun to secure the pieces of cardboard that will create the 4 squares inside the box.

Use small pieces of the Duct Tape to reinforce the corners where the cardboard is glued.

Use longer strips of Duck Tape to line the inside of the box.

Use the Duck Tape to cover the top edges of the box cutting slits where it needs to be folded down over the cardboard pieces inside.

Line the outside of the box with Duck Tape.

Paint each of the four squares in the box with a different color.

Paint 4 craft sticks in each color of paint.

Let all of this dry completely.

Assuming that 4 children are playing, give each child 4 sticks that are all the same color. Place the box on the ground and have each child stand at each edge of the box. Depending on their age, height and abilities, have them take about 3 or more big steps backward.

Have the kids go around taking turns or let them all toss at once, but each child will try to get their 4 colored sticks in the matching square. The one who gets the most sticks in their color wins!

As you can imagine, there are tons of ways to modify this game depending on age and number of players. If you have just one toddler, you can let them play all by themselves, trying to get each colored stick into its colored spot, allowing them multiple chances so they have a better outcome.

You could also let each child toss all sticks during their turn and count how many points they get in total instead of just giving them one color.

Craft sticks also come in colored versions, so if you don’t want to paint them, you can buy them pre-colored.

A great way to change things up is to have your child gather some small items from around the home (toy cars, straws, figures, lego, etc) that fit the colors and sort them into their matching colored box.

The great thing is that this craft is pretty durable, so it will last a long time and is totally reusable for a long time. Just store your craft sticks in a plastic baggie and tape it underneath when you put it away, and take it out any time your child wants to play!

Craft Stick Color Toss Sorting Game

Craft Stick Color Toss Sorting Game

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $2

This game helps to teach young children their basic primary colors of red, yellow and blue (with a bonus green!), which is a wonderful way to introduce them to their colors.

Materials

  • a heavyweight cardboard box that measures about 14” x 14” at the bottom and 2” high (a pizza box works well for this project.)
  • 2 pieces of cardboard that are 7” x 2”
  • Another piece of cardboard that is 14” x 2”

Tools

  • craft knife
  • scissors
  • pen
  • glue gun
  • duct tape
  • 16 large craft sticks
  • red, yellow, blue and green craft paint
  • small sponge paint brush

Instructions

    1. Measure inside the box so that you have 4 squares that are all the same size (7” x 7”). Use the ruler to make measurement lines.
    2. Use the glue gun to secure the pieces of cardboard that will create the 4 squares inside the box.
    3. Use small pieces of the Duct Tape to reinforce the corners where the cardboard is glued.
    4. Use longer strips of Duck Tape to line the inside of the box.
    5. Use the Duck Tape to cover the top edges of the box cutting slits where it needs to be folded down over the cardboard pieces inside.
    6. Line the outside of the box with Duck Tape.
    7. Paint each of the four squares in the box with a different color.
    8. Paint 4 craft sticks in each color of paint.
    9. Let all of this dry completely.

Notes

You can use colored craft sticks to make this easier, but painting them yourself assures the colors match the box more precisely so children aren't confused.

There are tons of ways to modify this game using other items around the home.

To store, simply gather the craft sticks in a plastic baggie and tape to the bottom of the box.

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Did you make this project?

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