Color theory is like learning the magic tricks of colors!

Colors are Like Best Friends! 🎨

Colors love to mix and play together. Some get along really well, and some create exciting effects!

1. Primary Colors – The Color Bosses

These colors are the big three—they make every other color!

• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
  (You can’t mix other colors to make these—they’re the leaders!)

2. Secondary Colors – Made from Mixing!

When you mix two primary colors, you get a new color:

• Red + Yellow = Orange
• Blue + Yellow = Green
• Red + Blue = Purple

3. Tertiary Colors – Fancy Mixes

If you mix a primary color with a secondary color, you get even more shades! Example: Blue + Green = Teal

4. Warm & Cool Colors – The Feeling of Colors

Some colors feel warm (like the sun ☀️), and some feel cool (like water 🌊).

• Warm Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow (Energetic and happy!)
• Cool Colors: Blue, Green, Purple (Calm and relaxing!)

5. Complementary Colors – Colors That Pop!

Some colors are opposites, but when used together, they make each other look super bright!

• Red & Green
• Blue & Orange
• Yellow & Purple
  (That’s why sports teams and logos use these combos!)

6. Shades & Tints – Light vs. Dark

• Adding white to a color makes it lighter (called a tint).
• Adding black to a color makes it darker (called a shade).
• Adding grey to a color makes it neutral (called a tone).

Fun Activity! 🎨

Let them mix paint to see how colors change—like a scientist discovering new magic potions! 😊

1. Magic Mixing – Primary to Secondary 🎨

What You Need:

• Red, Yellow, and Blue paint (or food coloring)
• Water
• Small cups

What to Do:

• Pour water into three cups and add a few drops of red, blue, and yellow separately.
• Get three empty cups and mix:
  • Red + Yellow = Orange
  • Blue + Yellow = Green
  • Red + Blue = Purple
• Watch the magic happen as colors change before their eyes!

2. Color Wheel Collage 🌈

What You Need:

• Magazines, colored paper, or paint
• Glue and scissors
• A large circle drawn on paper

What to Do:

• Find or paint different colors in a circle layout (like a rainbow).
• Arrange primary, secondary, and complementary colors next to each other.
• This helps kids understand how colors relate!

3. Warm vs. Cool Colors Experiment 🔥❄️

What You Need:

• Warm color paints (red, yellow, orange)
• Cool color paints (blue, green, purple)
• Two pieces of paper

What to Do:

• Paint one paper with ONLY warm colors (it will feel energetic and bright).
• Paint the other with ONLY cool colors (it will feel calming).
• Explore how colors can make a picture feel happy, peaceful, or exciting!

4. Complementary Color Challenge 🚀

What You Need:

• Paint or crayons in red, green, blue, orange, yellow, and purple
• Black and white paper

What to Do:

• Paint two shapes side by side using complementary colors (like blue and orange).
• Notice how they POP against each other—it’s why complementary colors are often used in sports jerseys!

5. Shade & Tint Magic ✨

What You Need:

• Any bright color (like red or blue)
• White paint
• Black paint

What to Do:

• Mix white with your color to make a lighter tint.
• Mix black to make a darker shade.
• Try creating a cool gradient from light to dark!