Colour Mixing is so much Fun!
Colour mixing is a magical experience for kids, and it’s a great way to introduce them to basic colour theory while encouraging creativity. These 5 simple classroom experiments will get students engaged, curious, and excited about discovering new colours.
Bonus: Download a FREE printable Colour Mixing Chart to use with your students!
1. Magic Colour Predictions
Teach children about primary and secondary colours through prediction and experimentation.
Materials:
Download the Free PDF Colour Charts in this post.
FAS Super Tempera; red, blue, and yellow paint (or other water-based or tempera)
White paper
Paintbrushes or sponges
Small mixing trays or palettes
Instructions:
Show the class the three primary colours (red, blue, yellow). Explain that these are the base colours used to create all other shades.
Have students predict what will happen when two primary colours are mixed.
Let them test their predictions by mixing small amounts of two colours at a time.
Ask students to describe the new colours they’ve created and name them.
Why It’s Fun: Kids love making predictions and seeing if they are right. This is an interactive way to reinforce learning.
FREE PDF A3 Colour Mixing Poster
2. Mystery Colour Challenge
Encourage Children to experiment with different colour combinations without knowing the outcome.
Materials:
Three cups of FAS Super Tempera primary-coloured paint (one red, one blue, one yellow)
Three empty cups for mixing
Paintbrushes or droppers
Instructions:
Without telling students what will happen, let them mix equal amounts of two colours into an empty cup.
Ask them to stir the colours together and guess the resulting shade before revealing the outcome.
Repeat with different colour combinations.
Have students document their results in a simple colour-mixing chart.
Why It’s Fun: The element of surprise makes this activity exciting, and students will remember the results better when they discover them firsthand.
3. Rainbow in a Bag
A mess-free way to explore colour mixing with young children.
Materials:
Resealable plastic bags
Red, yellow, and blue paint
Tape
Instructions:
Place small blobs of two different primary colours inside a resealable plastic bag.
Seal the bag tightly and tape it to a table or window.
Let students squish and press the colours together through the bag.
Observe as the colours blend without making a mess!
Why It’s Fun: This is a great sensory activity, and kids love the squishy feeling of mixing colours with their hands.
4. Drip and Swirl Colour Experiment
Explore colour blending using water and gravity.
Materials:
Coffee filters or paper towels
Droppers or paintbrushes
Watered-down FAS Super Tempera in primary-colours
Instructions:
Lay a coffee filter or paper towel flat on a table.
Using a dropper, have students place drops of two different primary colours close together on the filter.
Watch as the colours blend and spread out, forming new shades.
Let the filters dry and turn them into art projects.
Why It’s Fun: The unpredictable movement of colours creates a mesmerising effect and teaches kids about absorption and diffusion.
5. Ice Cube Colour Paint Mixing
A "cool" way to demonstrate how colours mix over time.
Materials:
Ice cube trays
Water
Red, blue, and yellow food colouring
Clear cups
Instructions:
Mix water with food colouring and pour into ice cube trays (red, blue, and yellow separately).
Freeze overnight.
Give each student a cup of water and two different-coloured ice cubes.
Let them observe as the ice cubes melt and mix together, forming new colours.
Why It’s Fun:
Watching the colours slowly mix as the ice melts adds a layer of patience and observation skills.
These fun classroom paint-mixing experiments make learning about colours exciting and hands-on. Whether predicting colour outcomes, creating surprise shades, or exploring through sensory activities, kids will love discovering the magic of mixing colours.
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