**Lesson Plan: Color Theory and Mixing for Grade 3**
**Objective:**
Students will learn the basics of color theory, understand primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and practice mixing colors to create new hues.
**Materials Needed:**
- Color Wheel handouts
- Red, Yellow, and Blue paint
- Paint palettes or mixing trays
- Paint brushes
- White and black paint
- Water cups
- Paper towels
- Drawing paper or canvas
- Aprons or old T-shirts (optional, to protect clothing)
**Standards:**
- Art Standards: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
- Common Core: Integrating knowledge and ideas (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7).
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. Begin with a discussion on what colors the children like and why.
2. Introduce the Color Wheel, explaining the terms "primary colors" (red, blue, yellow), "secondary colors" (orange, green, purple), and "tertiary colors."
**Guided Practice (15 minutes):**
1. Show how to create secondary colors by mixing primary colors.
- Mix red and yellow to make orange.
- Mix blue and yellow to make green.
- Mix red and blue to make purple.
2. Give each student a palette with the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and have them follow along to mix secondary colors on their palettes.
**Activity 1: Color Mixing (20 minutes):**
1. Provide each student with a color wheel handout.
2. Students will use their palette to fill in the color wheel by mixing primary and secondary colors as discussed.
3. Allow students to create tertiary colors by further mixing adjacent primary and secondary colors (e.g., mix yellow-green by mixing yellow and green).
**Break (5 minutes):**
- Give students a brief break to relax and wash their hands if necessary.
**Activity 2: Creative Application (25 minutes):**
1. Distribute drawing paper or canvas to each student.
2. Ask students to paint a simple picture of their choice using at least one primary, one secondary, and one tertiary color.
3. Encourage the use of white to lighten colors (tints) and black to darken colors (shades).
**Closing and Review (10 minutes):**
1. Have students share their artwork with the class and explain how they mixed colors to achieve different hues.
2. Recap the lesson by discussing what they learned about color mixing and the importance of understanding color theory in art.
3. Display the color wheels and artworks in the classroom or a designated gallery space to celebrate students' achievements.
**Assessment:**
- Observe students during activities to ensure they understand the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
- Evaluate the completed color wheels and paintings for accuracy and creativity.
**Extensions:**
- For early finishers, provide complex shapes to color using mixed colors.
- Offer additional exploration with other mediums like color pencils or markers.
**Homework:**
- Ask students to find items at home that reflect primary, secondary, and tertiary colors and share them in the next class.
**Cleanup (5 minutes):**
- Ensure all brushes are washed, palettes are cleaned, and tables and floors are wiped.
By the end of the lesson, students should have a foundational understanding of the color wheel, primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and the ability to mix paints to create various hues.