3 Ways to Explore the Primary Colors

Giving young children the foundation for understanding the primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—will be the building blocks to know where other colors come from. These three colors are the foundation for creating a wide spectrum of other hues and will open up endless possibilities for creativity in their exploration of the arts as well as color theory. We recently invited the children to explore the magic of color mixing through these three engaging, hands-on activities:

First we read the story Mix It up by Hervé Tullet which is an interactive book that invites readers to MIX IT UP in a dazzling adventure of color and tones, filled with magic and wonder. In the book the artist's simple instructions, make colors suddenly appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader's imagination. The result is not only enchantment, but a real and deeper understanding of primary colors. Then we invited the children to explore these three invitations.

1.Color Theory Water Play:  We set up three sensory bins with different sized containers, pipettes, and ice+ water tinted mixed with Colorations Liquid Watercolors in the primary colors. The children were encouraged to experiment and mix up the create and discover new colors.

2. Primary Color Finger Painting Exploration:  We placed white poster paper inside Ziploc bags and prepared bags with primary color combinations: yellow + blue, blue + red, and red + yellow. The children were invited to mix, squish, and blend the colors. 

3. Invitation to Mix Up Primary Colors on Easels: We provided easels with red, blue, and yellow tempera paints, brushes, and canvases. The children were invited to freely explore, create, and mix the primary colors.