Feed the Monster Color Sort Activity
This Feed the Monster Color Sort activity doesn't take long to put together, and it's pretty easy to get your hands on the materials needed to make it. (Upcycle those Starbucks cups.)And the silly monsters make color sorting much more fun.Here's what I used to make this activity. (We were sorting four different colors.) This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
paper coffee cups and their lids (one for each color you want to sort)
construction paper - one sheet of each color
white card stock - one sheet
scissors (The exacto knife and 3.5 circle punch sped up the process but aren't necessary.)
optional: pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and stickers for decorating "monsters"
Elmer's glue
cut out monster mouths on coffee cup lids
Cut circles (the size of the bottom of the coffee cup lid) out of the white cardstock. You need one circle per lid.
Fold the cardstock circle in half and cut out a zig zag pattern to resemble monster teeth. (Do not cut the circle all the way in half. You just want a big hole in the center to represent the monster's mouth.) Re-open the circle and see if you're satisfied with your monster mouth. Adjust as needed. (The hole of the mouth should be big enough for a block to fit through.)
Cut out the center of the coffee cup lid. (The exacto knife made quick work of this.)
Glue the cut monster mouth circle to the top of the coffee cup lid.
Add googly eyes if you want. (I went the extra step and punched small circles from the same sheet of cardstock for the eyes, but then realized it wasn't really necessary. You can glue the eyes right on the main mouth circle.)
Hold the colored paper up to the cup and eyeball the measurement for where you need to cut the paper. (For these "tall" size Starbucks cups, I folded the construction paper in half vertically and cut on the fold.) Save time and energy by cutting all four sheets at once. Trim if needed.
Glue the paper around the cup. Since the cups are tapered, the bottom of the paper will not be flush against the cup. Just leave it a little loose.
Decorate the outside of your cup if you want. (or have the kiddos do it)
I added pipe cleaners by just tucking them partially into the lid as I was pressing the lid on. This means they come off when the lid is pulled off (and can be reused later in another craft).
decorated paper coffee cups for feed the monster color sort activity
And now they're ready for play.
To make this activity easier for kiddos just beginning to learn their colors, only sort two colors. This will minimize the decision making and maximize the chance of success for them.
When the monster is full of blocks, gently remove the lid to dump the blocks out.
For an added challenge, practice naming the colors in Spanish or another language.
If you don't have Mega Blocks you can either purchase some through my Amazon affiliate link here. (You can do so much with these blocks, I recommend having a set on hand for toddlers, preschoolers, and other young kids.) Or you can use an alternative item to sort by color such as pom poms or bottle caps.
kids sorting mega blocks by color into paper coffee cups
I hope your kiddos have fun with this Feed the Monster Color Sort Activity.
Pin the image below to save for later.
For more monster theme fun try these crafts and activities below.
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