MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Introduction to Color: The Foundation of Art and Design
What is the most favorite color in the world? The series of lessons all about color and the color wheel, asks kids to research color, create an eye-spy activity, watch videos, and examine the color choices made by artists in their...
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Color Wheel
Second graders mix different combinations of the three primary colors to create the three secondary colors, then create new colors by mixing two or more different colors. They identify the colors they create.
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Primary & Secondary Colors
Students identify primary and secondary colors and how they relate to each other, and experiment with mixing colors.
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Exploring Colors
Students research visual arts by reading a children's book. In this colors lesson, students identify the primary colors and utilize food coloring, plastic cups and eye droppers to create art using the color combinations. Students read...
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An Approach to Chemistry via the Analysis of Art Objects: The Scientific Method, Laboratory Safety, Light and Color Theory
Students create a painting that clearly exemplifies the use of primary pigments to make secondary pigments. They demonstrate the distinction between value and saturation. They explain the affect of adjacent colors on each other and...
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Color Mixing
Students distinguish and recognize the three primary colors used in color printing. In this color mixing lesson, students predict what color will be produced when pigments or color beams are mixed. Students will demonstrate an...
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Mondrian, Math, and Amazing Colors
Students study geometric shapes, lines, and the primary colors as they create Mondrian-like art prints.
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The Connection Between Pigment and Light Colors
Students learn the procedure for mixing secondary colors from primary pigments and observe the results of mixing two primary colors.
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Raindrops Keep Falling on my Art
Kids may be a little resistant to this rainy day idea, but it could produce some amazing art. They paint a watercolor picture of anything they like. When they are done, they take their paintings outside and let the rain work its magic!...
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Horse of a Different Color: An Introduction to Color in the Visual Arts
Students identify ways in which the artist uses color to draw the view's attention to points within the composition and creates a sense of depth. They discuss the effect of color on the tone and mood of an artwork.
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Season Tiles: Ceramics Lesson
Each color holds its own feeling and these feelings are used to describe the four seasons. Youngsters create a color palate based on the four seasons, assigning various colors to each season. They each create four clay tiles, painting...
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Spreading Paint with a Popsicle Stick
This one is for the pre-K jet-set. They hone their observation and listening skills as they use Popsicle sticks to apply paint to wax paper. They view how the colors blend and mix together as they move the stick around on the paper.
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Sponge Painting Flowers
Explore the shapes and colors of spring with a flower themed painting project. Included here are a list of materials and the instructions needed to execute an art lesson on sponge painting flowers. Tip: Use in conjunction with a flower...
Memorial Art Gallery
Art Alive! - Towing a Boat, Honfleur
Color, light and shadow, the placement and size of objects. These are some of the tools artists used to tell their stories. Model for learners how to read a painting by closely examining these features. The richly detailed packet...
Memorial Art Gallery
Art Alive! - Beach at Blue Point
And then what happened? Class members engage in a series of activities that model for them how to read the story in a painting. Participants respond to questions that ask them to closely examine the elements in William Glackens' "Beach...
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Name Art
Young scholars create name art. In this visual arts instructional activity, students use horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines to highlight their own names in print. Young scholars use primary colors to create secondary colors in the...
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Weaving a Watercolor
Students examine the color wheel and work with watercolors. In this color lesson, students go over primary, secondary, and intermediate colors before watching a demonstration of watercolor brush techniques. They choose a shape to paint...
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Mixing Colors
First graders, exploring and experimenting with the primary colors of red, yellow and blue, mix different colored icings together to create other colors formed with primary colors. The color wheel is also discussed and shown during this...
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Mondrian Inspired Abstract Art
Students explore the art of Piet Mondrian. In this abstract art lesson plan, students look at paintings by the Dutch painter and then follow the provided steps to create their own abstract art inspired by his works.
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Pop Art Ice Cream Painting
Students develop skills in painting and create a painting of an ice cream cone using Pop Art as in inspiration.
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Ancient Aztecs
Is it a calendar? A religious symbol? A political statement? One thing for certain is that Aztec sun stone designs remain an important symbol in Mexican cultural art. Young artists craft their own Aztec Sun design incorporating ideas...
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Painting a Color Wheel
You have to love the color wheel, it's just so colorful! Your kids will love it too, as they work through an introductory exercise which allows them the opportunity to draw and paint a color wheel of their own. This wheel focuses on...
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Red is the Word!
Through the use of stories, artwork, and the KidPix program, youngsters explore the color word red, and engage in activities around the word. Teaching kindergartners about the color words can be so much fun. This could be adapted for any...
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Crepe or Tissue Paper Blots
What happens when you drip vinegar onto tissue paper? The colors bleed, leaving an interesting and organic design. Get your class observing and creating with this quick-and-easy art project. Tip: This can also be done using coffee...