Science · Ages 5–7 · 50 min
Everyday materials and their properties
Children name everyday materials, describe their properties and test which materials are waterproof to choose the best one for a job.
Art · Ages 5–7 · 50 minutes
Colour mixing with primary colours
Children mix the three primary paint colours to make the secondary colours, and use what they have mixed to colour a picture of their own.
Success criteria
- I can name the three primary colours
- I can mix two primary colours to make a new colour
- I can use my mixed colours in a picture
Key vocabulary
- primary colour
- secondary colour
- red
- yellow
- blue
- orange
- green
- purple
- mix
- shade
- palette
You will need
- ready-mixed washable paint in red
- yellow and blue
- white paint
- palettes or paper plates
- brushes
- water pots
- aprons
- paper towels
- printed colouring pages
Curriculum links
Practice sheets
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Missing letters: Colours
Colouring page: Butterfly
Colouring page: Parrot
Children are usually amazed that only three colours are needed to make most of the others. In this lesson they discover the secondary colours for themselves, keep a record of what they made, and then use their own mixed colours on a butterfly or a parrot.
1.Starter
5–10 minShow three pots: red, yellow and blue. Ask: "If I only had these three colours, could I paint a green frog? An orange? A purple flower?" Take guesses with a thumbs up or thumbs down. Then say: "Let's find out." Five minutes.
2.Teach
10–15 minName the colours: "Red, yellow and blue are called primary colours. You cannot make them by mixing other paints. But you can mix them to make new colours."
Model at the front, talking through every step:
- "I take a little yellow on my brush and put it on my palette. I wash my brush, then add a little blue. Watch what happens when I mix them." (Green.)
- "Now red and yellow." (Orange.)
- "Now red and blue." (Purple.)
Script: "Orange, green and purple are called secondary colours, because we made them from two primary colours."
Then show what happens when you add more of one: "If I add more yellow to my green, it becomes a lighter, yellower green. Adding white makes a colour paler." Ask: "What do you think happens if I mix all three together?" Try it. It turns a muddy brown. Children love this, and it explains why we wash brushes between colours.
palette
paintbrush
crayon
flower
butterfly
