Middle School

Artwork by Gracie H.

The Essential Question
How can students learn about the impact of color composition?

Objective
Students will use a variety of colors in a problem-solving activity.

Materials
paper, black permanent markers, colored pencils (primary and secondary colors)

Procedures

1. Students cover their paper with large intersecting loops using a permanent marker.
2. Ask students to skillfully fill in the spaces made by the loops using colored pencils.
3. Students use the following criteria: (a) All primary and secondary colors must be used; (b) no color can share a wall (adjacent space) with the same color; (c) at least two spaces must share a wall or adjacent space with its complementary color.

Melody Weintraub is a retired classroom art teacher and adjunct art education instructor for the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.