Play Games

• Playing games is a highly effective way to teach preschoolers. They enjoy the interaction and competition, and will absorb the information more quickly while having fun. Play a matching game by laying out several color swatches, with two of each color, and asking them to pick out two that are the same color. You could also specify which color they should find. Play the game "I Spy" with colors. Tell the children you spy an item of a certain color and let them guess what the item is.
  
  

Sing Songs

• Sing songs such as "Can You Guess the Colors?" and "Eight Pretty Colors" with the children. Lyrics such as, "Can you guess the color? Is the answer in your head?
  It’s the color of an apple, and that color is red!" are great memory tools for the children because they visualize an apple and connect it with the color name red. Combine this auditory teaching technique with visual aids by using flashcards of each color as you reach them in the song.
  
  

Look at Flashcards

• Visuals are a strong teaching tool because the children can recall the image in memory and connect it with the information. Flashcards might contain a block of color or an image of a certain color. As you look at the flashcards, talk about what color they are. Then have the children look at the flashcards and name the color. If the name of the item is also on the flashcards, that is a bonus. The children might also pick up on word recognition.
  
  

Arts and Crafts

• Have the children use only one or two colors at a time to make something. Let them paint a picture using finger paints, then let them tell you what colors they used and why. Alternately, assign one or two colors to each student and have them make a craft or paint using them. This will challenge them to remember what items are the assigned colors. Another option is having them all make a green craft on Monday, then a blue craft on Tuesday.