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Colors

First graders explore the world of color — the three primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and how mixing them creates brand-new colors — the foundation of painting and art.

Grade 1Color30 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name the primary colors.
  • ✓Explore mixing.
  • ✓Make new colors.
  • ✓Use color in art.
Essential Question

The world is full of colors! But did you know that just THREE colors can make all the others? What are the primary colors, and how do we mix new ones?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Colors Explorer

Project this and tap each idea. Have children learn the primary colors and how mixing makes new ones.

🎨 Explore colors — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Artistic Process (Look · Explore · Create · Share · Reflect)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Look — Three Magic Colors

4 min

Just THREE colors can make all the others — which ones?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show red, blue, yellow.
  • Ask about mixing.
  • Get ready.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Predict.
2

Explore — Explore Colors

8 min

Children explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to the Colors Explorer.
  • Name the primary colors.
  • See mixing.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Name them.
  • See it.
3

Create — Create

9 min

Children create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Mix blue and yellow.
  • Mix red and yellow.
  • Make a new color.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Mix green.
  • Mix orange.
  • Make one.
4

Share — Share

6 min

Children share.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show your colors.
  • Name a color you made.
  • Be kind.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Show it.
  • Name it.
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

3 min

Children respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a primary color.
  • Say a mix.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Visual Arts).

NCAS
VA:Cr1.1.1

Explore color as an element of art.

NCAS
VA:Cr2.1.1

Use color to make art.

NCAS
VA:Re7.1.1

Perceive colors in the world.

NCAS
VA:Re7.2.1

Describe colors in artworks.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Color swatch cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ and ___ make ___.”
  • Use paint/crayons.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with naming colors.
  • Use swatches.
  • Mix one pair.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Mix more colors.
  • Make a color wheel.
  • Paint a rainbow.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎨Paint or crayons
  • 💻The Colors Explorer
  • 🖌️Brushes
  • 📄Paper
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

colorwhat we see in lightprimary colorred, blue, or yellowreda bold, bright colorbluea calm coloryellowa sunny colormixto blend colorsgreenblue + yelloworangered + yellow
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What are the three primary colors?
Red, blue, and yellow.
QUESTION 2
What color do blue and yellow make?
Green.
QUESTION 3
What color do red and yellow make?
Orange.

Reflect: mix a color.

Have children mix two colors at home (or with crayons) and name the new color. A printable colors sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 ColorsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 ColorsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ ColorsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: blue, color, green, mix, orange, primary color, red, yellow
  1. red + yellow
  2. a bold, bright color
  3. a sunny color
  4. blue + yellow
  5. a calm color
  6. red, blue, or yellow
  7. to blend colors
  8. what we see in light

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What are the three primary colors?
  2. What color do blue and yellow make?
  3. What color do red and yellow make?
Answer key — Part A: 1) orange · 2) red · 3) yellow · 4) green · 5) blue · 6) primary color · 7) mix · 8) color
Part B: 1) Red, blue, and yellow. 2) Green. 3) Orange.