Color Theory

Ask kids to take a test in art and you will hear moans and groans that sound worse then my stomach after missing my lunch. I have been teaching color relationships along the way this year but wanted to know if my students "got it" or were just following along. 

Here's an easy way to see who knows their complimentary colors.

 I asked students if they remembered what complimentary colors are. Most couldn't remember and said that it sounded like "compliment." Well, what is a compliment? "When someone says something good about you." So that means color always looks good with it's complimentary color. Complimentary colors make each other stand out. Complimentary colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel. 

Now for the activity (and I say activity but I mean assessment.) 

Fold your paper to make smaller rectangles. In each rectangle, pressing hard, write a letter, number or whatever else you can dream up in ONE color (take the brown, black and white out of the crayon box for this activity.) 

Next, use watercolors to paint each rectangle with the complimentary color. For example a green letter would be painted with red. It will create a beautiful crayon resist, quilt-like effect for students and a fun and painless assessment for teachers!

Only after students completed their work did we discuss this painting by Jasper Johns. It lead us to another discussion about how artists use color. 

So how did they do? Great! This taught me I should do this lesson earlier in the year and sometimes I need to stop and review vocabulary so we remember it! 

So, do you have any easy projects that help you assess basic knowledge or skills? Do you have any cool ideas for helping students remember vocabulary? Please share!