Front Yard Rainbow Stew

By request, Allyssa shares the "recipe" for Rainbow Stew - a mushy, colorful concoction that is a visual and tactile delight!

Rainbow stew is created from a gooey base of cooked cornstarch. It is divided and food coloring added to create primary colors (blue, red, yellow). Scoop some of each color into a zip lock bag and seal (push out the air and after closing the bag, use duct tape to make sure that gooey mess stays in!)

Then the squeezing begins and the colors blend, creating a rainbow of colors. It is both satisfying and fun to touch, and also to experience visually the creation of new colors. It is so much more meaningful to see that blue and yellow make green, rather than being told it will happen.

When we make "rainbow stew" it is amusing to see kids use their feet to squish, sit on them, carry the colorful baggies around and use them in their play all morning. Then in the end, the cubbies are full of baggies with fairly gross looking mush! They are not meant to save, so after a short time, toss it!
- Allyssa

Rainbow Stew Recipe
(When I make it for the class, I multiply by 6!)

1c. cornstarch
1/3 c. sugar
4 c. water
food coloring (blue, red, yellow)

Mix dry ingredients, add water, cook over medium heat until thick. Divide "stew" by three and use food coloring to make each portion a different color.