Visual Art · Color

Mixing the Rainbow

Two primary colors at a time — discovering the secondary colors
SubjectVisual Art
GradeGrades 2–3
Duration45 min
DateWed, Nov 12
TeacherMs. Park
What Artists Will Do
The Big Idea
+ = Orangered + yellow
+ = Greenyellow + blue
+ = Purpleblue + red
Standards
VA:Cr2.1.2 Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in art-making.
VA:Cr1.2.3 Apply knowledge of available resources and tools to investigate an idea through art-making.
VA:Re7.2.2 Perceive and describe how a work of art reflects the artist's choices.
Materials
Red, yellow & blue tempera paint (one tray per table)
Paper plates as palettes; one round brush per artist
Pre-drawn 6-petal "color-wheel flower" paper
Water cups, paper towels & smocks
Big demo color wheel for the carpet
Our 45 Minutes
Hook Demo Paint Talk Clean
0:00–0:06
6 min
🎨Warm-Up / Hook
TeacherHold up the big color wheel. Point to orange and ask: "How could we make this color if our only paints were red, yellow, and blue?" Take three guesses.
StudentsTurn and tell a neighbor which two colors they think make orange, then thumbs-up if they want to test it today.
0:06–0:17
11 min
🖌Demonstration
TeacherAt the easel, mix a dab of red and a dab of yellow. Think aloud: "A little, then a little more — watch the orange grow." Name primary vs. secondary. Show the rinse-brush-between-colors routine.
StudentsWatch the mix happen, call out the secondary color as it appears, and repeat the brush-rinse motion in the air.
0:17–0:34
17 min
🌺Guided Exploration · Paint the Flower
TeacherSend tables to paint. Circulate and prompt discovery: "What happens if you add MORE yellow than blue?" Catch muddy mixes early — remind to rinse before switching colors.
StudentsPaint the three primary petals first, then mix and paint the orange, green, and purple petals between them, making their own color-wheel flower.
0:34–0:40
6 min
💬Reflection · Turn & Talk
TeacherPause the painting. Pose the reflection prompt: "Tell your partner how you made ONE secondary color — use the words primary, secondary, and mix." Listen in on two pairs.
StudentsShow a partner one petal they mixed and explain which two primaries made it and what they noticed while mixing.
0:40–0:45
5 min
🧼Closure & Clean-Up
TeacherCall a "rainbow gallery walk" — flowers stay on tables to dry. Restate: "Two primaries make one secondary." Lead the clean-up song and brush-rinse routine.
StudentsPlace their flower to dry, wash brushes, wipe tables, and walk past two other tables to spot a great color mix.
How We'll Check
1Reflection talk: each artist tells a partner how they mixed one secondary color, using "primary," "secondary," and "mix." (Teacher listens during the turn-and-talk.)
2Finished flower: the petals show all three secondary colors (orange, green, purple) painted between the correct primaries.
What mastery looks like: A clean, recognizable orange, green, AND purple on the flower (not muddy brown), and the artist can say "I mixed red and blue to make purple" without help.
For Every Artist

+Supports

  • Gets muddy colors: give a labeled "rinse cup" diagram and pre-portion paint dabs so there is less to over-mix.
  • Multilingual learners: post color words in English and the home language beside paint blobs; let the reflection happen by pointing plus a sentence frame.
  • Fine-motor / IEP: offer a wider flower template and a chunky-handle brush; accept a verbal answer instead of a painted color wheel.

★Extensions

  • Challenge fast finishers to make a "tint" by adding white, and a "shade" by adding a tiny bit of black.
  • Ask: what do you get if you mix ALL three primaries? Predict, then test on a scrap.
  • Paint a second flower using only warm colors (red, orange, yellow) and name the mood it gives.