Early Childhood

The Essential Questions
Can students use the primary and secondary colors to make a collage?

Objective
Students will use primary colors to create a fish collage and secondary colors to paint a background.

Materials
12 x 18" (30 x 46 cm) white paper, 6 x 6" (15 x 15 cm) paper and 5 x 5" (12.5 x 12.5 cm) paper in the primary colors (choose which color for the smaller paper; provide one of each color per student), black and white paper scraps, secondary color tempera paints, brushes, scissors, glue

Procedures
1. Share images of fish. Ask students to describe the shapes and other details they see (e.g., scales).
2. Discuss the primary and secondary colors and share examples.
3. Have students use scissors to round two corners (on the same side) of both 6 x 6" primary color papers, then glue these pieces together on the white paper—rounded sides facing out—to create the body of their fish.
4. Instruct students to use the third color paper to create fins, patterns, and other details, and the black and white paper to create eyes for their fish.
5. Ask students to complete their collage by creating a background using secondary color tempera paints.

Assessment
Did students use the primary colors to make their fish? Did students use all of the secondary colors to paint their background? Did they add other details (scales, patterns, etc.)?

Wendy Libby is an art teacher at Fruit Street School in Bangor, Maine.