Mixing Paint: Blue and Red

Key Science Concepts

• A single color can have different shades, from very light to very dark.
• Two or more colors can be combined to make a new color.
• Mixing colored paint with white paint makes a lighter shade of that color.

Vocabulary

Encourage children to use color names, as well as key terms such as color, paint, and shade; descriptive words such as light, lighter, dark, and darker; action words such as describe, paint, and mix; and science process words such as change, compare, observe, and predict.

Materials

• blue, red, and white paint
• paper
• 2 or 3 paper plates (per child)
• a paintbrush with a small tip or a craft stick (per child)
• chart labeled “Mixing New Colors”

Directions

Tell children they will mix two colors of paint, red and blue. What color do they predict these two colors will make? Why do they predict that?

1. Have children experiment with mixing blue and red paint. (Later, they can experiment with adding white.)
2. Ask them what they noticed:
   • How did you make that color?
   • How much blue did you use? How much red?
   • What other colors do you think you can make?
   • Do you have any colors that are exactly the same?
   • How are these two colors different?

Encourage children to share and post the “formula” for making a favorite color. Invite them to create a name for the color.

Reflect and Share

Talk about what children observed and discovered while mixing colors of paint. Write their ideas on the chart, “Mixing New Colors.”

If children did some of the activities where they mixed colors of water, ask them to compare mixing colors of paint and mixing colors of water. How were those two experiences different and similar? What did you enjoy mixing the most? Why?

Extension Activity

On a different day, you might try the activity using blue and yellow paint.

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