The primary colors create the base of the color wheel
The color wheel depicts the range of colors. A basic color wheel includes the three primary colors (red, blue and yellow), the three secondary colors (orange, green and violet) and the six tertiary colors (yellow-orange, red-orange, blue-green, yellow-green, red-violet and blue-violet). Teaching the color wheel allows students to understand how different colors are created. They can also create their own colors for artwork.
Paper Plate Color Wheels
A paper plate creates an ideal base for a homemade color wheel. You can either provide paint in the 12 colors on the color wheel or have the kids mix their own starting with only red, yellow and blue paint. Tempera paint is a good material for kids because it is easy to wash off hands and paintbrushes. Use other materials with older kids if you prefer. The paper plate is divided into 12 equal pie wedges. Each wedge will have one of the colors in it. The primary colors are placed in the 12:00, 4:00 and 8:00 positions on the paper plate. There should be three blank sections between each primary color. The secondary colors go in the 2:00, 6:00 and 10:00 positions. There should be a blank section between each of the six colors now on the color wheel. The secondary colors go between the two colors that create them. For example, green would go between blue and yellow. The tertiary colors are then filled into the remaining sections of the paper plate. Place them between the primary and secondary colors that mix together to create them. For example, yellow-green would go in the wedge between the yellow and green sections.
Color Wheel Mural
This color wheel collage mural is a collaborative color wheel activity for a group of kids. You'll need a large piece of butcher paper for the mural. You can cut it into a large circle or leave it as a rectangle. Each of the 12 colors on the color wheel gets a separate section on the mural. The kids find objects in magazines or around the classroom that fit into each color category. The pictures are placed into the corresponding color section on the class mural. This activity helps the kids identify the different colors in real-life situations.
Color Wheel Scavenger Hunt
A color wheel scavenger hunt is another activity that encourages the kids to find the 12 colors in real-life situations. Create a simple tracking sheet that has the 12 colors listed. You can also add a color sample next to each line for reference or provide a copy of the color wheel. The kids search around the classroom to find an item that matches each color. The first child or group of kids to find all 12 colors is the winner. You can also expand the search area to the entire school or outside.
