Color Wheel Introduction

Summary

This lesson is a very basic demonstration of how simply the color wheel is created.

Materials

• red, yellow, and blue colored pencils or crayons--enough for entire class to use or share without difficulty
• color wheel introduction assignment sheet
• step-by-step directions/visual aids

Background for Teachers

The primary colors are red, yellow and blue. All colors on the color wheel are based on these three colors. The secondary colors are made from mixing equal parts of the primary colors--red & yellow make orange, red & blue make violet, yellow & blue make green. This activity demonstrates this concept in a very basic manner.

Student Prior Knowledge

Student's should have the basic knowledge of what the primary colors are.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should learn that the primary colors are red, yellow and blue. All colors are based on these three colors. The secondary colors are made from mixing equal parts of the primary colors...this may be difficult to do perfectly with colored pencils or crayons, but they should get the basic idea. Students should be able to list primary colors and secondary colors once they have completed this exercise.

Instructional Procedures

Make sure that each student has access to red, yellow and blue colored pencils or crayons. Hand out a Color Wheel Introduction assignment sheet to each student. Warn students that in order for them to complete this activity successfully, they need to LISTEN TO DIRECTIONS CLOSELY. Provide step-by-step coloring guides for them to look at as you go through the directions for those visual learners.

STEP ONE: Color in blue all three sections to the left of the line that goes from 1 to 4. (Hold up your colored example for students to see what you are talking about. Repeat step one as often as necessary. Walk around to see that each student is coloring in the correct section)

STEP TWO: Color in red the entire area above the line from 3 to 6. (Again, hold up your colored section showing step two. This step will cover one of the blue sections with red--to make a theoretical violet)

STEP THREE: Color in yellow the sections under the line that goes from 2 to 5. (Show colored example. This should cover both a blue and a red section to make green and orange, respectfully.)

Once all students have successfully followed all coloring instructions, have them label each of the colors on the color wheel as to what they should be and what they are made out of. Have them label each color as a primary or a secondary. This color wheel may now act as a reference for all future color assignments in which they may need an example.

Strategies for Diverse Learners

Stay close to your struggling students, pointing out for them exactly where to color as the verbal and visual instructions may not be enough.

Assessment Plan

Points for accurate completion should be given for this assignment. Each color wheel should have colors represented in the correct order and correctly labeled colors. 5 points per section for a total of 30 points.

Bibliography

The New Book of Knowledge Encyclopedia, Volume C