Color wheels are such a basic tool that artists use. We have to understand how colors relate to each other and how to mix them. But it is SO boring teaching the same color wheel over and over and over again. We have to cover it at least once in every grade. So how do you make an old concept feel fresh again?
Four forth grade this year, we tried a color wheel that uses light to dark patterns of each color. We threw in some shapes to create pattern reversals to give it that Op Art feel and made it easy to complete by just using crayons! And viola! Color Wheel!
We started by measuring out the six sides. It was actually shocking how many students were not successful at measuring. I had to stop and just teach how to use the ruler. This is apparently not a skill being learned in math anymore. Figuring out units of measurement through equations/conversations is
not the same as actually using the ruler, measuring out distance and marking it. Once the exterior of the shape was complete we moved on to segmenting the middle and then drawing the lines for the pattern. And again, they needed help with this - some of them were drawing the lines from one "slice" across into the other without turning them to account for the new angle. Drawing was supposed to be one class but almost wound up two full classes with just the issues we had having to go back and correct mistakes made by not understanding how to use the ruler or understanding angles.
Once we got to the coloring though - it went like gangbusters! Does anyone besides me use that word? Gangbusters. It's a good word. We should use it more often.
Anywho...Coloring took about two classes. Here's some of the finished examples:
