Exploring Colour
To develop understanding of colour mixing and colour vocabulary.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Expressive Arts & Design
- Learning area: Expressive Arts and Design
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Mixes primary colours to create secondary colours
- Predicts outcomes of colour mixing
- Uses colour vocabulary accurately
- Shows understanding of colour relationships
Materials
- Primary colour paints (red, blue, yellow) plus white
- Mixing palettes and trays
- Pipettes for controlled colour mixing
- Colour wheels and reference materials
Instructions
Set up colour mixing investigations as exciting experiments. 'Today we're going to be colour scientists! We're going to discover what happens when we mix colours together.'
Start with predictions. 'If we mix red and yellow together, what do you think will happen?' Accept all ideas—finding out is the exciting part!
Guide systematic exploration. 'Let's put some red on the palette... now add some yellow... mix it together... wow! What colour is it now?' Let children discover for themselves.
Introduce vocabulary appropriately. 'When we mix two colours together and make a new colour, that's called colour mixing. Red and yellow mixed together make orange!'
Extend learning. 'What happens if we add more yellow? Does it change?' Encourage experimentation with proportions. 'You made light orange and dark orange!'
Connect to real life. 'Where do you see orange in the world? In autumn leaves! In carrots! Artists use colour mixing to create all the colours they need.'