Tinted and Shaded Circles

Once students know how to mix basic colors like green, orange and purple, it’s good for them to learn how to tint (which means to add white), and to shade (to add black to a color).
1. Distribute to each student a plate with white and black tempera paint, a brush, some water, and the circled paper. (I pre-printed 3" circles on 9" x 12" paper.)
2. Let the students chose just one other color (red, blue, turquoise, orange, etc.) which is added to their plate. They are to mix that color with white and black, in varying proportions, to make many new colors. As these colors are created, they are to paint rings on the circled paper again and again until it is filled in. The goal is to have at least 2 shades or tints filled in each circle. Encourage lots of variety!
CA Visual Art Standard: Creative Expression, Grade Four
2.2 Mix and apply tempera paints to create tints and shades.