Colors Teaching Theme: Purple Activities and Songs
Books About the Color Purple
- Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut by Margaret Atwood
- I Love You the Purplest by Barbara Joosse
- Mr. Pine’s Purple House
- Purple Is Best
- Purple Hair? I Don’t Care!
Purple Song
Tune: “Jingle Bells”
P-U-R-P-L-E,
Purple is just right.
Grapes and plums,
Jack Horner’s thumb,
Shades of purple bright.
Harold and the Purple Crayon: Class Book
Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Create a class book titled Kindergarten Children and the Purple Crayon.
Materials:
- White drawing paper
- Purple crayons
- Purple markers
- Bookbinding materials
Instructions:
- Read Harold and the Purple Crayon aloud to the class.
- Discuss how Harold uses his purple crayon to create an imaginary world.
- Give each student a sheet of white paper and a purple crayon.
- Have students create their own pictures using only purple.
- Ask each child to dictate a story about their picture.
- Write the child’s story underneath the illustration using a purple marker.
- Combine the completed pages into a class book.
Later in the school year, students may be able to write their own stories.
Send the class book home with a different student each day so everyone has an opportunity to share it with family members.
Purple Cow Poem and Ice Cream Floats
Teach students the poem Purple Cow, then make purple cow ice cream floats using grape soda and vanilla ice cream.
Purple Cow
I’ve never seen a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you this right now.
I’d rather see than be one!
Purple Cow Floats
Ingredients:
- Grape soda
- Vanilla ice cream
- Cups and spoons
Instructions:
- Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream into each cup.
- Slowly pour grape soda over the ice cream.
- Watch the purple soda foam around the ice cream.
- Enjoy the purple cow floats!
Purple Cow Counting Poem
Read this playful counting poem aloud before enjoying purple cow floats.
I saw a purple cow.
I one him.
I two him.
I three him.
I four him.
I five him.
I six him.
I seven him.
I eight him!
The poem uses a play on words, ending with “I eight him!” (I ate him).
After reciting the poem, students can enjoy their purple cow ice cream floats.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse: Sorting Activity
Book: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
After reading Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, have students make their own purple paper purses and fill them with pictures of purple objects.
Materials:
- Purple construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons or markers
- Pictures or drawings of purple objects
Suggested Purple Objects:
- Purple grapes
- Purple crayon
- Purple popsicle
- Purple Kool-Aid
- Purple lipstick
- Purple monster (Purple People Eater)
Instructions:
- Read Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse aloud to the class.
- Have students create purses using purple construction paper.
- Provide pictures or drawings of purple objects for students to place inside their purses.
- After filling the purses, take out each item one at a time.
- Discuss whether each item would be appropriate to carry in a real purse.
Discussion Questions:
- Would you carry this item in a real purse?
- Why or why not?
- Where would you usually keep this item?
- Would this belong in a real purse or a make-believe purse?
Have students sort the objects into two categories:
Real Purse — Items that would be practical to carry in a purse.
Make-Believe Purse — Items that would be better kept somewhere else or are imaginary.
Purple People Eater Song
Teach students the classic Purple People Eater song for a fun addition to your color purple activities.
Encourage students to sing along, dance, and imagine what a silly purple monster might look like.