Colored Counting/Sorting Noodles

Over the past week I have been working with my 4 year old on counting, adding/subtracting, and sorting. The easiest way I could think of doing this and keeping his attention was to make it colorful and fun. I had him help me on this project to get his interest started. We took some assorted noodles (uncooked of course), different shapes and sizes, and put them in small ziploc bags. We used different bags for each color we chose to make sure the colors did not mix. I then took a cap full of rubbing alcohol (which helps to preserve the noodles and keep bugs away), 3-4 drops of food coloring in each bag, sealed the bags and shook well to make sure the coloring got all over the noodles. Once we got the coloring all over the noodles I emptied out the bags of noodles, still keeping them seperated and laid them all out to dry on paper towels. Once they dried we started our work...adding a few of each color to make math problems like 3 purple noodles plus 2 yellow noodles and counting them for the total. I have him sort by the different shapes of the noodles and colors. He has had a blast with them. It helps to keep him occupied and helps him to learn while I work on the lessons with my 6 year old for awhile.