| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Art |
| What topic | |
| What length (min) | 45 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 4 |
| Class size | 27 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 10 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Exploring Color Theory
Year 4
Art
27 students
45 minutes
This lesson aligns with the Australian School Curriculum for Visual Arts, focusing on creating and presenting artworks using different media, techniques, and processes.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Color Theory | 10 mins | Introduce the color wheel and the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Explain color mixing and its importance in art. |
| 2 | Demonstration of Mixing Colors | 10 mins | Show students how to mix primary colors to create secondary colors. Demonstrate techniques for using paint brush and palette effectively. |
| 3 | Guided Practice | 15 mins | Students will create their own color wheel using the tempera paints. Encourage experimentation with different color mixes and techniques. |
| 4 | Independent Creation | 8 mins | Students will paint a small artwork using their mixed colors and the techniques discussed. Encourage creativity and personal expression. |
| 5 | Clean Up and Reflection | 2 mins | Instruct students to clean their work areas. Allow them to share thoughts on their painting experiences with a partner while tidying up. |
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we are going to explore something really exciting in art: color theory! Have any of you heard of the color wheel before? Great! The color wheel helps us understand colors and how they mix together.
Firstly, we have primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. These colors cannot be made by mixing other colors together. Then, we have secondary colors, which you can create by mixing two primary colors together. For example, if we mix red and blue, we get purple. Finally, there are tertiary colors, which are made by mixing primary and secondary colors.
Understanding this is super important because colors can change the mood of your artwork. Now, who can tell me why knowing about mixing colors is useful in creating art? Yes! It helps us create more vibrant and interesting pieces. Let’s get started!"
“Now, I’m going to show you how to mix our primary colors to create some secondary colors.
Look here! When I take some red paint and mix it with blue, I’ll get purple. See how beautifully these colors blend together?
Let’s try another one. If I mix yellow with blue, I get green. And finally, yellow and red give us orange. As I do this, notice how I’m using my palette to mix. You can use the back of the paintbrush to help blend the colors smoothly.
Now, I want you all to pay attention to the brush strokes I’m using. Each brush size can create different textures and effects, so try to think about that when you paint later.
Are you all ready to mix your own colors? Let’s go on to our guided practice!”
“Alright, now it’s your turn to create your own color wheel! Each of you will have a handout of the color wheel and some tempera paints to work with.
Get your palettes ready! Start with the primary colors: a dot of red, blue, and yellow on your palette. Now mix them to create secondary colors in the appropriate sections of your color wheel.
I encourage you to experiment! What happens if you add a bit of white to your mix? Let’s see how you can create lighter shades. Remember, there’s no wrong way to do this as long as you’re using your creativity!
As you’re working, I’ll walk around to check in with each of you. I’m here to help if you have any questions or need guidance. Let’s create some beautiful colors!"
“Now that you have your color wheels ready, it’s time to use those colors to create your own artwork! You can paint anything you like on your canvas board or watercolor paper using the mixed colors from your color wheel.
Try out the techniques we discussed. Use different brush sizes and strokes to make your artwork unique. Remember, this is about expressing yourselves, so let your imaginations flow!
You have about 8 minutes for this part, so let’s get started. I can’t wait to see what you all create!”
“Okay, everyone, let’s wrap up our paintings! Please make sure to clean your work areas. Rinse your brushes in the water containers and dry them with the paper towels.
As you tidy up, I want you to partner up and share your thoughts about your painting experience. What did you enjoy? What did you find challenging?
After sharing, we are almost done for today. Remember to take your color wheel home and practice mixing colors with whatever paints you have available. You’ll write a short reflection about your discoveries, and I’ll collect those next class.
Thanks for a fantastic lesson, everyone. You all did a brilliant job today!”
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A color wheel showing primary, secondary, and tertiary colors} | Introduction to Color Theory - Overview of color theory - Importance of the color wheel - Primary colors: red, blue, yellow - Secondary colors: mixing primary colors - Tertiary colors: mixing primary and secondary colors |
| 2 | {Image: Primary colors (red, blue, yellow) in paint tubes} | Primary Colors - Cannot be made from other colors - Foundation for mixing other colors |
| 3 | {Image: Paint mixing (red and blue creating purple)} | Creating Secondary Colors - Red + Blue = Purple - Yellow + Blue = Green - Yellow + Red = Orange - Importance of blending techniques |
| 4 | {Image: A palette with various colors mixed} | Demonstration of Mixing Colors - Techniques for smooth blending - Using brush sizes for different textures - Encouragement to explore color mixing |
| 5 | {Image: A handout of a blank color wheel with paint supplies} | Guided Practice - Create your own color wheel - Start with primary colors - Experiment with lighter shades by adding white - Emphasis on creativity |
| 6 | {Image: Students painting with tempera paints} | Your Turn to Paint! - Use mixed colors to create artwork - Experiment with different brush sizes and strokes - Express your individuality through art |
| 7 | {Image: A student painting on a canvas with vibrant colors} | Independent Creation - Instructions for using mixed colors - Encouragement to let imagination flow - Time allocated: 8 minutes |
| 8 | {Image: Clean-up process with brushes and paper towels} | Clean Up and Transition - Instructions for cleaning up work areas - Rinsing brushes and drying them - Importance of tidiness |
| 9 | {Image: Students discussing their paintings in pairs} | Reflection and Sharing - Partner up to share experiences - Discuss what was enjoyable or challenging - Importance of reflection on learning |
| 10 | {Image: A reminder note to take the color wheel home} | Wrap-Up and Next Steps - Reminder to take home color wheel - Short reflection on discoveries - Collect reflections in the next class |
If you could create a mood using only two colours from the primary colour palette, which colours would you choose and why?
Can someone explain how mixing the primary colours to make secondary colours can affect the way a viewer feels about an artwork?
What do you think might happen if we mixed all three primary colours together? Can you describe the result?
How do you think the size of your paintbrush can influence the overall look of your artwork? Can you give an example?
If you were to teach someone else about colour mixing, what tips or tricks would you share to help them understand it better?