4 Different Color Mixing Lessons

The children at my school used the color wheel to mix complementary colors for the neutral backgrounds of the self portraits.  They have completed a color wheel worksheet with 12 steps of color.  Each grade is moving on with a new project that is related to this color wheel. 

In third grade we are making an artistic sampler of color mixes.  Now that they are in the final stages, they have really developed individually.  We all started the same way by making large closed shapes that were filled in with the primary color.  We went on to paint the secondary shapes.  After those 6 colors were designated, they were free to make any mixture they wanted and could make it into any shape they desired.

The fourth grade is making interactive color wheels.  The top layer will be a triangle that moves to indicate a triad of color.  It will be able to identify the primary colors as well as the secondary colors.  The bottom layer will be just a bit larger and will have the full 12 steps of color, which will include the primary, secondary, as well as the 6 tertiary colors.







Example for gr 5



Example for gr 6




The fifth and the sixth graders are designing their own color study paintings.  The 5th grade example will need a little work to bring in some of the tertiary mixes, but the layout is finished.  Fifth graders will specifically paint using the primary and secondary colors and the tertiary colors.  They may use sharpie or black oil crayon to define certain areas and shapes.   Sixth graders will do the same; however, I am encouraging them to incorporate tints, shades, and tones of the primary and secondary colors.  They will be encouraged to show color as well as form in their work.