The supplies for color-match games are often found around the home or classroom. Tempera paint, markers or crayons allow a variety of colors for homemade color-match games. Card stock, poster board or cardboard serve as the base for playing pieces for the games. Paint-chip samples from home-improvement stores offer a premade selection of color pieces for games. Pick up two of each color chip for matching purposes. Clothespins, file folders, toys of different colors, index cards and glue round out the supply list for the color-match games.
Use the pairs of paint-color chips for a simple color-match game. A strip of multiple colors works best for the game. Cut one strip apart, attaching each square of color to a clothespin. To play the game, the child clips each clothespin to its corresponding color section on the full strip.
Color-match file folder games offer simple construction and can take on any theme. Choose images such as bears, leaves, geometric shapes or classroom-theme shapes. Make pairs of the shapes, coloring the two shapes in each pair the same color. Glue one of each color pair to the file folder and leave the remaining shapes free. Playing the game requires the children to place the loose shapes on top of the matching color on the file folder.
Matching toys to color cards is another simple game for kids. Color the index cards with paint or crayons to designate the different color matches. Provide a pile of toys in various colors. The child matches the toys with the prepared color cards.
Another use for index cards is to create a homemade memory game involving colors. Make pairs of color cards by drawing two images in the same color on two different cards. Another option is to glue matching paint chips on the cards. The pairs are mixed up, with all cards placed face down. The players take turns flipping over two cards to make color matches.
Color-match games work well in classroom settings and at home. In a classroom, these games offer an ideal learning-center or quiet-time activity. Individual students or small groups can work on these games. These games offer preschool and early elementary students the chance to improve color recognition. They also learn the names of colors and focus on subtle differences in the shades.