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Spinning Color Wheels

Students will create a cool color-blending trick while they learn about optical color mixing as well as primary and secondary colors.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • String

Steps

  • Step 1

    Review primary and secondary colors with students. Have them name the three primary colors as well as the three secondary colors that result from mixing two primary colors together. Then discuss optical color mixing, the phenomenon that happens when a viewer perceives color in an image as a result of two or more different colors placed near each other.

  • Step 2

    To make a spinning color wheel, have students cut a circle out of heavy paper. They can use a compass or place a round object on the paper, then trace it and cut it out. Next ask them to divide the circle into six wedges, like cutting a pie or a pizza. Ask them to use crayons to color in each wedge, one for each of the three primary and three secondary colors.

  • Step 3

    Have students poke a small hole in the center of the circle. They can use a pencil to do this. Then thread a piece of string through the hole. Ask students to hold one end of the string in each hand and spin it around until the entire length of string is twisted, then give it firm, quick pull which will cause the wheel to spin.

  • Step 4

    Have students describe what they see as the wheel spins. Can they still see each individual color? Do the colors look different? Have they blended into one brownish color? Why do they think this happens?

Standards

ARTS: Create art using various materials and tools to explore personal interests/experiences, questions, problem-finding, curiosity, and problem solving. 

SCI: Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways. 

Adaptations

Read a book such as "Color Dance" by Ann Jonas or "Mix It Up!" by Hervé Tullet. Have students note the new colors formed when primary and secondary colors blend.

Pointillism is an example of optical color mixing. When two different colored dots are placed close together, our eyes merge them into one shade. Have students look at examples of pointillism paintings, such as "Sunday on the Island of La Grade Jatte" by Georges Seurat, "Children on a Farm" by Camille Pissarro, and "The Evening Air" by Henri-Edmond Cross.