100 Purple Things and Purple Activity Ideas for Kids

Purple Things for Kids

Are you looking for purple things to share with your students or kids? We collected below 100 purple things you can share plus a big list of activities around the purple color.

Learning colors can be a fun experience for young children. The best way to teach children colors is by showing them many examples.

The color purple can be celebrated with a themed day or classroom lesson.

Encourage children to wear purple. There will inevitably be many shades of purple that provide a teachable moment about how colors come in light and dark shades.

The next step is to showcase many examples of the color purple by offering pictures of purple items or tangible items that can be passed around and touched. A game is a great teaching method that makes learning fun.

Each year purple day is March 26th. Wear purple to support epilepsy awareness worldwide.  For more info on Purple Day visit the ‘Purple Day Campaign’ 

Color matching, guess the color, and I spy are activities that build excitement and color recognition. Art projects and simple coloring offer another hands-on learning tactic.

Find something purple like grapes and have the children color them or glue purple circles onto the picture.

A display of the colorful art projects will continue to cement the concept into young minds.

Table of Contents

• Purple Things List 
• Purple Decoration Ideas
• Purple Themed Activity Ideas
• Purple Art Ideas
• Purple Craft Ideas
• Purple Themed Science Projects
• Purple Snack Ideas
• Purple Beverage Ideas

The Big List of All Purple Things

1. Grapes

2. Eggplant

3. Lavender

4. Purple Nudibranch (marine animal)

5. Purple Sea Star

6. Purple Tang (fish)

7. Purple Mountain, China

8. Amethyst

9. Lucifer Hummingbird

10. Purple Peacock

11. Purple Honeycreeper (bird)

12. Purple Cauliflower

13. Crocus (flower)

14. Trailing Geranium

15. Purple Jade

16. Spinel (gemstone)

17. Jambul (Fruit)

18. Purple Martin (bird)

19. Canterbury Bells (flower)

20. Magenta Flower

21. Begonia Rex

22. Fig

23. Bruises

24. Barney

25. Orchids

26. Cabbage

27. Red Onions

28. Violets

29. Plums

30. Tulips

31. Blueberry

32. Blackberry

33. Purple Bell Pepper

34. Purple Cayenne Pepper

35. Purple Jalapeno

36. Violet-Backed Starling (bird)

37. Purple Grenadier (bird)

38. Purple Gallinule (bird)

39. Varied Bunting (bird

40. Violet-crowned Woodnymph (bird)

41. Splendid Sunbird (bird)

42. Indian Purple Frog

43. Orchid Dotty Back (fish)

44. Purple Emperor Butterfly

45. Violet Sea Snails

46. Purple Beetles

47. Purple Bamboo Salt

48. Purple Granite

49. Purple Potato

50. Purple Asparagus

51. Purple Carrots

52. Acai Berry

53. Purple Corn

54. Ube (Purple Yam)

55. Passion Fruit

56. Elderberries

57. Purple Kohlrabi

58. Radicchio

59. Purple Belgian Endive

60. Purple Kale

61. Red Leaf Lettuce

62. Purple Broccoli

63. Purple Thyme

64. Purple Basil

65. Black Currants

66. Lepidolite (mineral)

67. Quartz

68. Sodalite (mineral)

69. Spodumene (mineral)

70. Purple Coral

71. Elegant Firefish

72. Betta Fish

73. Purple Striped Jellyfish

74. Blackcap Gramma Basslet (fish)

75. Purple Queen Anthias (fish)

76. Charoite 

77. Sugilite 

78. Lilac

79. Violet 

80. Jacaranda

81. Hellebore

82. Bellflower ( Campanula )

83. Lupin

84. Aster

85. Hyacinth

86. Foxglove

87. Giant Onion Flower

88. hollyhock Flower

89. Petunia 

90. Fuchsia 

91. Pansy

92. Anemone 

93. Wisteria 

94. Morning Glory 

95. Verbena 

96. Bell Heather

97. Columbine

98. Clematis

99. Lisianthus

100. Pasque 

Pick a color for a theme and see how easy it is to do! Just choose a color your kids like–and go with it! This ‘Purplicious Theme’ for a party or childcare program is an example…

CALL IT:
‘Purplcious’ for a girls’ party…or…
‘Operation Purple’  for an all-boys’ or ‘boys and girls’ celebration or theme…

NOTE: Be sure to also visit the “PURPLE PEOPLE EATER” theme!

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Purple Decoration Ideas

• Balloons: Purple, violet, lavender, and white
• Crepe Paper and/or paper chains: Make them in colors of purple, violet, orchid, lavender,  pink and white
• Purple paper plates, cups, and napkins

PUT UP PURPLE  ‘COLOR BLOCK ART’ or PAPER ON WALLS

Paint and color large sizes and shapes of paper in shades of purple. Hang them on the walls in art gallery fashion.

Several identical and very large purple paintings would look great going across a wall in the gallery-wall style. You could also mount purple fabric or paper!

Fun Purple Themed Activity Ideas

1. Have kids/guests come DRESSED, in purple, violet, lavender, orchid or white!

2. Have PURPLE MAKEOVERS with purple eye shadow, purple lipstick, purple nail polish, purple hair ribbon, etc.

3. USING FACE PAINT– paint purple stripes, hearts, and stars on face and hands

4. PLAY ACTIVE GAMES USING PURPLE BALLOONS OR BALLS. See many balloon games in the Races, Relay, Balloon and Bean Bag Category. (Balloon games are towards the bottom of the page.)

5. Watch a movie and count how many purple things you see

Have a treasure hunt for purple items (Purple crayons, ribbon, fabric swatches, small nail polish, ponytail elastics, etc.)

6. MAKE EDIBLE  PURPLE FRUIT LIP GLOSS

Materials:

✓ Grape Flavored drink mix
✓ 1 cup vegetable shortening
✓ Food coloring
✓ A small container such as a film container

1. Mix one packet of drink mix with shortening.
2. Add in a few drops of food coloring that matches the flavor. ie: yellow for lemon.
3. Pack in a small container, such as a film container, and you have a wonderful tasting and smelling lip gloss. Of course, the lip gloss is edible should some accidentally be licked off.

Purple Art Ideas

1. MAKE PURPLE PLAYDOUGH (Grape) NO COOK   

This is my favorite playdough because–it’s fast–no cooking–easy ingredients and smells good—tastes bad. The original recipe calls for 1 cup of flour–however, just having made it–we added another two or three cups of flour. When making playdough, you can always add more flour if it is too wet and additional hot water if it’s too dry! My 4.5 and 6-year-old grand-daughters thought it was the greatest thing ever! (Barb 10/3/10)

Ingredients:

✓ 2 1/2 c flour, sifted
✓ 1/2 c salt
✓ 3 T cooking oil
✓ 1 or 2 pkg Grape Kool-aid (unsweetened)
✓ 1 c very hot water

Instructions

1. Mix together flour, salt, oil, and Kool-aid.
2. Add the cup of almost boiling water. Mix well.
3. Knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.
4. Have fun!

When done, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Your play dough will be the scent and color of the Kool-Aid!

*Any other unsweetened, powdered drink mix may be substituted.
*There may be colored hands but it washes off. (My own experiences have never produced colored hands–hower some have said theirs did.)

2. Painting With Purple Ice Cubes 

Materials:

✓ 2 tsp. purple powdered tempera paint
✓ 1/3 cup water
✓ Wax-coated paper cup
✓ Craft stick
✓ Plastic wrap

Instructions 

1. Mix paint and water together.
2. Pour the mixture into a wax coated paper cup.
3. Cover the cup with plastic wrap, then insert the craft stick through the plastic wrap in the center of the cup.
4. Place the cup in the freezer and freeze until solid.
5. Remove the paper cup and plastic wrap from the Freeze Pop Paint.
6. Dip the paint into water and paint on white paper.

3. MAKE A ‘PURPLE THING’ COLLAGE

Material Ideas

✓ purple fabric scraps
✓ Purple paper
✓ purple tissue paper
✓ purple yarn
✓ purple buttons
✓ purple cotton balls
✓ purple milk jug caps
✓ purple confetti
✓ purple paint chip samples from the paint or hardware store, etc.

Beautiful collages can also be made by clipping ‘purple images’ from magazines and cards! Clothing collage made by Abby in Grand Rapids for Polyvor.com

4. THUMBPRINT GRAPES

Instructions

On finger-paint, paper, draw or copy a lot of grape stems. Using purple finger-paint- have children use their thumbs to fill the page with “purple grapes”!

5. SPONGE PAINTING

Instructions

Dip sponge pieces into thick purple paint. Print on sheets of white or light blue paper. Tip:  Clothespins can be clipped on the sponges and used as handles.

6. PURPLE SCRATCH AND SNIFF WATERCOLORS 

Ingredients:

✓ 1 Tablespoon purple powdered unsweetened drink mix
✓ 1 Tablespoon warm water
✓ Several small containers

Instructions 

1. Mix the water and unsweetened drink mix together in a small bowl. (Make tints of purple (grape) and also mix red and blue to make purple)
2. Pour blended mixture into containers. (Muffin tins or film canisters work well.)
3. Repeat this with each “color” you’re making, pouring them into separate containers.

Paint with ordinary paintbrushes, cleaning the brush between colors. Allow artwork to dry overnight before scratching and sniffing.

7. PURPLE KOOL-AID PAINT 

Ingredients: 

✓ 2 packages unsweetened grape Kool-aid
✓ 2 cups flour
✓ 1/2 cup salt
✓ 3 cups boiling water
✓ 3 tablespoons oil

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients. Paint.

8. PURPLE SILLY PUTTY

Ingredients:

✓ 4 TBSP of white Elmer’s glue
✓ 2 TBSP of liquid starch…  Add liquid starch slowly to the glue
✓ If it is stringy–add a drop of glue.
✓ If too hard– add more starch. Mix in a couple of drops of purple food coloring-or red and blue.

 Caution:  the food coloring mixed into the glue and starch concoction–WILL stain hands. Be sure to have good soap near a water source. Color should come off in a couple of washings

Chill for at least 2-3 hours. It becomes runny when too warm.

9. PURPLE MILK PAINT

Mix one cup condensed milk with a few drops of red and blue (or purple) food coloring.

10. SHAVING CREAM FINGER PAINT

Materials:

✓ 1 medium Ziploc bag
✓ white shaving cream
✓ Food coloring

Instructions

1. Place a palm-size dollop of shaving cream into the Ziploc bag; add a few drops of blue and red food coloring.
2. Zip up the bag, removing all the air you can before sealing. The kids can “knead” the bag to mix the colors – red and blue make purple!

11. SPRAY KOOL-AID 

Sprinkle Kool-aid crystals onto a piece of paper. Have children spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use grape mix as well as blending red and blue.

12. SHADES OF PURPLE

Put out shades of purple paint, from dark purple to lavender at the easel or art table.

13. PURPLE SAND ART 

Instructions

1.  Give each child a piece of construction paper, and have them draw a picture or write words with the glue. Make sure that they do not put gobs of glue in any one spot.
2.  Before the glue dries, with the hand, pour/put sand onto the glue. Let it sit for a few minutes and then shake off the excess sand.
3.  It should dry flat for about half an hour depending on how much glue was used.

DRY SAND PAINT WITH SHAKER
Take 1 cup of sand and 1 T. powdered paint. Mix and put into a shaker.
Put glue design onto paper-Shake sand onto the glue.

14. SENSORY TABLE: MAKE ‘PURPLE SUDS’

This is a great sensory play activity idea. Add red and blue food coloring into the water table. Squirt some liquid detergent for wonderful purple suds.

Purple Craft Ideas for Kids

1. PURPLE YARN VASE

Materials:

✓ A glass bottle
✓ Purple Yarn
✓ Craft glue
✓ A toothpick

Instructions

1. Cover about 1″ of the bottom of the bottle with glue.
2. Wind the yarn around the bottle, tight but not too tight. You can use different colors of yarn to make stripes on your vase.
3. When the glued area is completely covered, push the rows of yarn closer together. Tuck in the beginning of the yarn with a toothpick, add a little more glue there and press down for a minute.
4. Keep repeating steps 1, 2, and 3 until the whole bottle is covered with yarn. Glue will dry clear.

2. PURPLE GLITTER SPARKLE BOTTLES 

Instructions

1. Remove the label from a clean, clear 16 oz. plastic soda bottle.
2. Pour at least 1/2 cup of light corn syrup into the bottle. Add a few drops of purple food coloring and some glitter and/or confetti.
3. Hot glue the lid onto the bottle.
4. Swirl and shake the bottle to watch its movement.

3. PURPLE YARN BALLOON BALLS

Blow up a balloon to a size of a softball or larger; cut about a 2 to 3 foot of purple yarn (depending on the size of ball) and put it in a bowl of Elmer’s glue.

Take out the yarn and begin wrapping it around the balloon. Hang the balloon to dry for 24 hrs or till the glue is dry. Pop the balloon and carefully remove it. You can hang this yarn balloon from the ceiling, branches or ______!

Purple Science Activities

1. COLOR CUBES 

Instructions

1. After filling an ice cube tray with water– add drops of red and blue food coloring in the compartments.
2. After cubes are frozen, place a red cube and blue cube in a glass.
3. As the cubes melt, watch what happens!

2. PURPLE GOOP/SILLY PUTTY

Add 4 TBSP of white Elmer’s glue to 2 TBSP of liquid starch. Mix together…if it’s too stringy, add a drop of glue. If too hard, add more starch. (The playdough ideas up above in ‘Art’ is also science!

3. COLORED CRYSTALS 

Instructions

1. For each child mix 1 tablespoon Epson salts and 1 tablespoon water in a baby food jar or a clear plastic glass.
2. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of purple food coloring.
3. Have children observe over the next few days as the water evaporates and small crystals begin to form.
4. Keep a magnifying glass handy for closer examination.

4. OSMOTIC CELERY

Cut the bottom of celery stalks and set them in glasses of PURPLE tinted water; the longer the stalks are in the water, the deeper the color will be. The stalks will absorb the color and then the kids can eat them!

ANOTHER CELERY IDEA: Mixing Colors 

• Take a stalk of celery and slice it up the center leaving it connected at the top. Place the celery stalk in two containers of colored water. Example: To get purple, put one side in red, and the other in blue.
• Leave it for a day or two and watch how the veins in the celery turn color as it takes up the water. You can also include a discussion of plant life with this activity.

PURPLE SNACK IDEAS

• PURPLE FRUIT SALAD
  Make a purple fruit salad with a selection of purple fruit. Purple fruits include:
  Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, Purple and red grapes, cherries.
• Make Grape JELL-O
• Make Peanutbutter and Grape JELLY/JAM SANDWICHES–cut with cute cookie-cutters if desired.
• Grape POPSICLES
• Purple JELLY BEANS
• Add purple food color to a sour-cream base DIP — and serve with veggies. Putting veggies on toothpicks and inserting them into an EGGPLANT would add to the purple theme!
• Make Purple PIES (Blueberry Pies)– Bake pre-made pie shells and have kids fill with blueberry pie filling…
• Serve CREAM CHEESE ON CRACKERS –Tint cream cheese purple (blue if can’t find purple) and spread on crackers.
• Make purple or blue POPCORN balls tinted with food coloring and blueberries.
  or…
• Tint melted butter with purple food coloring before drizzling – then let the kids mix well)
• Make EGG SALAD sandwich filling (tinted with food coloring)
• Frost a CAKE OR CUPCAKES with frosting tinted with purple food coloring. Or–have kids FROST PLAIN SUGAR COOKIES with purple-colored frosting. Decorate with purple sprinkles and candy.

PURPLE BEVERAGE IDEAS

Have the kids make Berry Smoothies!

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE #1 

Ingredients

✓ 1/2 cup orange juice
✓ 1 cup blueberry yogurt
✓ 1 cup washed, stemmed blueberries
✓ honey to taste

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth.

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE #2 

Ingredients

✓ 1 pint fresh blueberries or 2 cups (10 oz.) frozen blueberries, slightly thawed
✓ 1 cup pineapple, orange and strawberry juice blend or pineapple-orange juice
✓ 1 container (8 oz.) blueberry or vanilla yogurt
✓ 2 teaspoons sugar

Instructions

1. In the container of an electric blender, combine blueberries, juice, yogurt, and sugar.
2. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
3. Serve immediately in tall glasses.

Check out our other kid’s smoothie ideas.

MAKE PURPLE ICE-CUBES #1

Add a small amount of food coloring to the water before putting in ice cube trays and freezing. Add a grape to each if desired.

PURPLE ICE-CUBES #2

Freeze grape juice or soft drink in ice-cube trays.

PURPLE COW #1

Ingredients

✓ ¼ cup unsweetened grape juice
✓ 1 cup milk
✓ 1 sliced banana

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Makes 4-6 small servings

PURPLE COW #2)

Ingredients

✓ 2 oz. of grape juice
✓ 1/4 c. vanilla ice cream
✓ 2 oz. of lemon-lime soda

Instructions

1. Blend juice and ice cream
2. Add soda.

POEM TO GO WITH ‘PURPLE COW’

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one…
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one.

Grape Healthy Homemade Soda

Ingredients

✓ 100% frozen grape concentrate juice
✓ Carbonated water (amount required on juice can)
✓ Small cups
✓ Pitcher

Instructions

1. Make frozen concentrate juice by the directions on the can, substituting carbonated water for the regular water.
2. Pour into cups and enjoy.

Serving size 6 oz.

Storebought Purple Beverage Ideas

• Grape KOOL-AID
• GRAPE JUICE
• Grape Soda Pop or ICE-CREAM FLOATS
• Purple PUNCH

Looking for ‘Purple People Eater Ideas? VISIT OUR PURPLE PEOPLE EATER THEME! Lots of fun ideas!

Sources:

https://demplates.com/things-that-are-purple/
https://www.papaleng-amazing-animals.com/2015/04/10-striking-purple-colored-birds.html
https://www.animals-zone.com/10-amazing-purple-animals
https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/35-purple-fruits-and-vegetables-you-should-be-eating
https://www.thoughtco.com/blue-purple-and-violet-minerals-1440938