Guest Blogger- Jen with an AMAZING DIY Project for Word Work Fun!

Thanks so much, Jen, for covering for me while I'm in Boston!  I am SO happy to have Jen here to share this AWESOME project with ya'll!  I've been wanting to make these for a while so I'm thrilled to have Jen posting about it here!

Hi, y'all!  I'm Jen from Hello Mrs Sykes, and I'll be sharing how to use colored rice to make word work fun.



Why colored rice?  It's fun!  So often we forget to make things hands-on for our upper elementary students. Colored rice is great for tactile learners and much easier to clean up than sand.  In the past, I've used colored rice in baby wipe containers (easy storage) for younger students to practice writing letters or words in the rice.  They love the feel of the rice, and if some falls on the floor, they use the whisk broom and sweep it up in a jiffy.  With my older learners, I use colored rice to make word work fun with Shake It Up!



Colored rice is also cheap.  You can make a ton at a time, and it just needs to dry for a day or two before you are ready to go.  It stores easily in zip-lock bags, and can be color-coordinated.

Let's get started!  To make colored rice you'll need: Ziplock bags, food coloring, rubbing alcohol, uncooked white rice, and paper towels or newspaper to lay the rice to dry.

In a Ziplock bag, add several drop of food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon rubbing alcohol.  Add 1 cup of uncooked white rice and close the bag.  Shake the bag until the rice is evenly colored.  If needed, add another drop or 2 of food coloring.

Don't forget your little helpers!  Here's my littlest helper with a cheesy smile...

Pour each bag onto a paper-towel lined pan and let dry for a day or two.

Store the rice in Zip-lock bags until you are ready to use them.  Easy peasy!


If you'd like to use the rice to make Shake it Up, you'll need: a dry water bottle with  cap, colored rice, and the words or letters you are going to have the kiddos search for.  I also include a tag reminding them what they are looking for.  If you want a copy of the words I used, see the link at the bottom of the post.

I like to include a few little beads and erasers for added interest...

Add these to the bottle with the words...

No funnel, no problem... use scissors to cut a corner of your zip lock bag, and you can easily get the rice in the bottle.

 Add the tag, and Shake It Up!

If you want a copy of the Shake It Up! game, it is included in the free preview for one of my newer products.  Use the free preview in your class to Shake It Up!


Thanks for letting me ramble for a bit on Christina's blog!!  Enjoy!