Color Dictionary 

Do Now: Draw a necktie and design a pattern on it. 

For our last class in the "Introduction to Art" unit, the 1st and 2nd graders made color dictionaries. 

The dictionaries include all the color groups we have learned so far: primary colors, secondary colors, warm colors, cool colors, and complementary colors.

Primary Colors 

                              Secondary Colors

Warm colors

Cool colors

Complementary colors 

After recording all the color groups, students had to draw a picture using the colors from only one of the groups. 

While students worked, our 7th grade volunteer read Alice and Greta's Color Magic by Steven J. Simmons. Afterwards, students made Simmons-inspired drawings where all the colors were scrambled!

Color Dictionary 

Do Now: What would you like to be when you grow up? Draw a picture and write one sentence.

Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Computer Scientist

Professional Tennis Player in the US Open

A fashion Designer

In the WNBA

A Doctor or a Dentist

A Veterinarian 

A Homeschool Teacher and a Mom

President of the U.S.A.

To finish up our color theory unit, the 3rd and 4th graders made their own color dictionaries. The dictionaries highlighted the 5 color groups that we have learned about so far: primary colors, secondary colors, warm colors, cool colors, and complementary colors. 

Some students finished their color dictionaries, while others made 'color group drawings', or free style drawings made using the colors from one of the color groups. 

warm color drawing (red, yellow, orange and pink)

complementary color pair drawing (blue and orange)

cool color drawing (blues and greens)

Warm and Cool Colors 

Do Now: Draw what you'd like to do on your next birthday 

"Time to cut the cake"

"I would go to the park"

"Rock Climbing. I'm a princess!"

"I would go to a hotel."

After reviewing primary and secondary colors, the 1st and 2nd graders were introduced to warm colors (red, orange and yellow) and cool colors (green, blue and purple). 

Like the 3rd and 4th graders, the 1st and 2nd graders made one warm color painting and one cool color painting. 

Warm and Cool Colors

Do Now: Draw your favorite summer memory.

Next, we learned about two more color groups. warm colors, and cool colors.

Warm colors are Red, orange and yellow.

Cool colors are Green, blue and purple. 

After marking our warm and cool colors on our color wheel, we read Dr. Seuss' book My Many Colored Days. This short story highlights the link between colors and emotion in art.

Our lesson ended with some hands-on warm and cool color paintings. Students made 2 small paintings - one using only warm colors, and one using only cool colors.