Mouse Paint Color Wheel

Discussion Points

Ask students if they know what happens if blue and yellow mix? What about red and yellow or blue and red?
Show students what a Color Wheel looks like. An example can be found on this Color Wheel Reference Page.

Elements of Art

Primary Color: the 3 colors, red, yellow and blue, from which all other colors can be created by mixing.
Secondary Color: colors created by mixing primary colors only.

Materials & Supplies

Advanced Preparation

Set up three table stations for painting:
Table 1 – large plate with red paint on it and a small cup of yellow
Table 2 – large plate of yellow and a small cup of blue
Table 3 – large plate of blue and a small cup of red

Tips & Tricks

• Extra volunteers are helpful to supervise and clean students’ hands.
• If you have a student who won’t put their fingers into paint, give them the option of a brush.

​Instructions for Lesson

Sit down with the students and read Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  Talk about primary and secondary colors.

While the students are still sitting on their listening carpet, demonstrate the process of ‘mouse making’ they will get to do next for the group.

Creating Mice:

1. Mouse Body - Make your hand into a fist, put the side of it into the large paper plate of paint and stamp it onto the construction paper (in a place that allows them to make a circle when they are done).
   
2. Ears & Tail – using a finger, dip it into the same large plate of paint and draw a tail and two ears.
   
3. Footprints – dip two fingers into the same large plate of paint, then dip them into the small cup of paint, walk these fingers along to where the next mouse will be placed.
4. Clean their hands with the wet wipes before leaving the table.

Arrange the students in three groups to the three tables. 
Once at their first table, have each student do the following:

1. Write their name on the piece of construction paper.
2. Make a set of one primary colored mouse and secondary colored foot prints.
3. Once the groups are done have them move to the next table with their construction paper.
4. Repeat the ‘mouse making’ at each station until they have created a three-mouse color wheel.
5. Glue on the googly eyes once the mice are dry.

Reflection Point (Assessment of Learning Objectives)

As kids are working, ask them to point out and name the primary and secondary colors.  You could also ask for “I can” statements like “I can make green by mixing yellow and blue.”

Notes for Educators

21st Century Thinking Skills
Goal setting: mix 2 colors to achieve a new color. Observing: the product of mixing the 2 colors. 
Making Connections: “This color + this color=a new color, this color is in this other color.”
Visualizing, sequencing, predicting, classifying, comparing/contrasting, summarizing, finding evidence, problem solving (how to make a new color), cause & effect, analyzing, evaluating. 

Habits of Mind 
Creating, innovating, reflecting, thinking flexibly, questioning. 

WA State 2017 Learning Standards  
(VA:Cr1.1.K) a. Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials. 
(VA:Cr2.1.K) a. Through experimentation, build skills in various media and approaches to art-making. 
(VA:Cr2.2.K) a. Identify safe and non-toxic art materials, tools, and equipment. 
(VA:Cr3.1.K) a. Explain the process of making art while creating. 
(VA:Re8.1.K) a. Interpret art by identifying subject matter and describing relevant details.

Please note:  These lesson plans are intended for non-profit use only. Use of these plans for commercial purposes should give attribution to the Issaquah Schools Foundation and be accompanied by a nominal donation at www.isfdn.org/donate. Thank you.

Donate Now