Simplicity Happens

Want to support and track your child’s color knowledge? Get ready to sort, match, and label colors with this FREE fishpond activity!

The contents of this activity, such as text, graphics, images, information, as well as other material and content contained in this activity are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children will look at a named picture (child will look at a fish when adult says the word fish during a reading activity) by one year of age, children have knowledge of familiar objects, produce many single words, and follow simple, single step directions by 18 months old. Additionally, children will point to pictures named, point to pictures in books, name familiar pictures in a book by two years old, and sort shapes and colors. Also, children begin to name (expressively label) familiar objects by three years old, and begin to understand the concept of counting by four years of age. “Developmental milestone content and artwork provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program (www.cdc.gov/ActEarly; accessed 1/22/2022).

How will this activity support your 1 year old? This activity includes high-frequency words so when looking at the pictures and colors, say them aloud to help your child look for the picture named to show understanding!

How will this activity support your 18-month-old-child? This activity includes high-frequency vocabulary words including: fish and fishponds. These are familiar objects for children as they have frequent exposure to these words from books, school, environment, etc. Additionally, this activity will help your child follow directions to match fish to the corresponding colorful fishponds given your playful encouragement!

How will this activity support your two year old? This activity includes high-frequency vocabulary so that your child can point to pictures and colors named. Your child can follow directions and sort into piles by color and match to the corresponding color fishpond all while helping them to understand and name each primary and secondary color!

How will this activity support your three year old? Your child can begin to say the names of the primary and secondary colors featured within this activity given your playful encouragement!

How will this activity support your four year old? Place multiple fish on each pond and work on counting the fish with your child!

I want to continue working with my son on his color knowledge as well as support him with learning how to count. If you want to support your child or student with this activity, sign up below to get access to this FREE activity (and over 15 more FREE activities):

First, let’s print and laminate (optional but recommended for multiple use) the fishponds and fish cutouts. The fishponds are all on one page and come in the following colors:  red, green, orange, blue, yellow, purple, black, pink and white.

Fish Ponds

The fish cutouts will be used for matching colors on the fishponds as well as counting numbers 1-5. 

Fish Cut Outs for Matching Colors and Counting

Next, cut out the individual fish cutouts.

Then, place dot adhesives (soft side) on the individual fish cutouts. Put dot adhesives (rough side) on the fishponds. You’ll see that I cut one dot adhesive into four pieces to fit on the back of the fish cutouts and the fishpond background scene. Note: Adult Supervision is required. Use caution with the magnets, dot adhesives, and small pieces as they are not intended for use with children under the age of 3. Please use caution and supervise your child with the dot adhesives, magnets and small pieces when working on this activity. Only work on activities that you feel are safe for your child. Warning: Choking Hazard. Children under 3 should not participate in any activities that involve small pieces.

Is your child under 3? The Activity Garden includes a modified version of this activity available in bigger print for younger toddlers. Small pieces, magnets, and dot adhesives are not intended for use with the bigger print activities. Please remember that adult supervision is required with all activities shared on Simplicity Happens. Just a kind reminder to stay safe and have fun while learning with your little ones!

I used adhesive dots (soft side) on the back of the individual fish cutouts.

I used adhesive dots (rough side) on the fishponds. I also hole-punched the fishponds background scene to store within my son’s interactive play binder.

Now all of the materials are ready for your little one to have fun!

Step 1: Sort/Match the Fish by Color

First, we’re going to have fun sorting/matching the fish to the fishponds by color. My son shows me how he matches the yellow fish on the yellow pond and the purple fish on the purple pond. Great job!
He continues to sort/match the fish by color. Sometimes, he may need a little help from mom!
Is that fish orange or blue? 
Now he’s got it! Great job!
Once all of the fish are sorted/matched to their fishponds, it’s time for counting. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! Awesome job!

I also keep a record of his learning to support his knowledge during future play activities in my “Activity Garden: Goal Tracking Sheets booklet”:

This booklet includes over 30 tracking sheets for use with the activities in the Activity Garden. The booklet is available for purchase in the Simplicity Happens store.

Step 2: Receptive Labeling

This activity can be used for receptively labeling colors.

First, my son and I go through the colors together. I want to determine his ability to identify the colors when I name them. This demonstrates his ability to receptively label colors.

First, we work on receptive labeling:

I ask him to, “Point to the purple fish.” Great job!
I ask him to, “Point to the green fish.” Awesome!
I ask him to, “Point to the orange fish.” Very Nice! He works on labeling the remaining fish.
After labeling the fish, we also label the fishponds. I ask him to, “Point to the red fishpond.” Great job!
I ask him to, “Point to the yellow fishpond.”
I ask him to, “Point to the blue fishpond.” Well done! If he needs help identifying a color, I point and say, “I am pointing to the blue fishpond. Now you point to the blue fishpond.” He continues to label the remaining fishponds. Afterward, I tell him what an amazing job he did finding all of the colors!

I then keep a record of his progress with receptively labeling colors on the receptive labeling tracking sheet in my Activity Garden booklet!

Example of receptive labeling tracking sheet.

Step 3: Expressive Labeling

This activity can be used for expressively labeling colors.

First, my son and I go through the colors together. I want to determine his ability to name the colors when I ask, “What color is this?” This demonstrates his ability to expressively label colors.

Now we work on expressive labeling:

I point to the red fish and ask, “What color is this fish?” My son replies, “Red.” Very good!
I point to the white fish and ask, “What color is this fish?” My son replies, “White.” Great job!
I point to the purple fishpond and ask, “What color is this fishpond?” My son replies, “Purple.” Awesome!
I point to the black fishpond and ask, “What color is this fishpond?” My son replies, “Black.” Great! We continue to go through the remaining fish and fishpond colors. If my son needs support with a color I point to the fishpond and say, “Here is the black fishpond. What color is this fishpond?” Then, I tell him he’s doing a great job with telling me about each color.

I then keep a record of his progress with expressively labeling colors on the expressive labeling tracking sheet in my Activity Garden booklet!

Once we are finished playing with this activity, we clean up and store the fish in this zip pouch for later use.

What did you enjoy about this activity with your little ones? Please let me know in the comments section below!

For a list of materials, please visit the “Materials & Resources” page on the top menu bar.

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