Summer Popsicle Activity

These paper popsicles are a great fun and easy summer activity to make and play with the kids!

I drew up this design on the computer, though you could freehand these as well.  It is just a simple popsicle shape, doubled.  Then, I print it out on red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple papers, and cut these shapes out.  The popsicle shape folds in half so there will be a front and back to the popsicle.  You just want the sides and tops glued together.  Leave the bottom and the middle unglued for the popsicle sticks to slide in and out of. 
This is a matching game.  I write on the bottoms of the popsicle sticks.
To play the game you give your child the popsicle sticks separate from the popsicle tops.  Then, they are to match the word on the popsicle stick, with the color of the popsicle top.
You can do this for many different levels of children.  There are 4 different sides to the popsicle sticks that you can write the words on. 
My levels were the easiest match by looking at the color.  I wrote out the words in the color that corresponded.  Even though smaller children can’t read yet, this helps them to begin recognizing letters and words.
The second level was the words written in black, so there are no clues to what color it is (other than the word itself)

The third level is to write a flavor and have the children match the flavor to what color that should be.
I store all of these parts as sets in small ziplock baggies.  My children love doing this activity and we do it every summer.
Actually I print up enough copies for each of my children to have their own sets (plus enough for each of my preschool/daycare kids).  I then have my kids make their own sets.  If you notice these steps were very easy.  It uses cutting, and gluing skills (and very basic lines, at that).  I even write out each of the words for my children to copy onto their sticks.  I think they love these even more because they made their own!
So, my question is, what popsicle flavor is your favorite?
Mine, without a question is Root Beer followed closely by Banana.  The rest I could do without. ;)

Rebecca