This project was such a hit and had the kids really thinking the whole time.

Originally, I just wanted the kids to mix the colors anywhere on their paper, but the first class saw the color wheel example and they were trying to make their own, it was so sweet. So for every class after I gave them their own color wheels to fill in.

• First, we discuss primary colors, how they can’t really be made but can make lots of other colors. The kids get a chance to just explore this with red, yellow and blue Kwik Stix, which are a paint stick brand that elementary kids LOVE.
• Next class, I give them only red, yellow and blue again, and a color wheel. We look at the color wheel and we notice how red, blue and yellow are not next to each other because in between them we see our secondary colors. We talk about how the secondary colors are made my the two colors next to them, so if they can’t remember what color makes what, they just look up and can figure it out.
• With their three paint sticks they start to fill in their color wheels. I encourage them to fill in the primary colors all one space apart and then fill in the secondary colors in between. They layer and mix the colors on either side of the blank to get the secondary color. If they mess up the order its no big deal, I just try to make sure they have all six colors at the end!