Edible Color Wheel by Layne Long

Goal: To reinforce students understanding of color mixing and color theory terminology.
NC 6th Grade Essential Art Standards:
6.V.1 Use the language of visual arts to communicate effectively.
6.V.2. Apply creative and critical thinking skills to artistic expression.
6.V.3 Create art using a variety of tools, media, and processes, safely and appropriately.
6.V.3.1 Use tools and media appropriately to maintain a safe and orderly work space.
6.V.3.2 Create art using a variety of 2-D and 3-D media, including digital
6.cx.2.3 Understand how collaborative planning is used to create art
Objectives:
Students will understand the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary/intermediate colors as
well as associated color schemes and vocabulary including complementary, analogous, tint, shade,
and tone
Students will review how to mix primary colors to create secondary and tertiary/intermediate
colors
Students will create a hands-on, meaningful, edible color wheel which they will definitely
remember
Students will work cooperatively to complete the assignment

Materials:

(2 boxes) Nilla Wafers (12 cookies for each trio)

(3 containers) Vanilla Frosting (1 for each primary color)
Package of food coloring
(4 each trio)- 4 Paper Plates (3 used as a palette for mixing, one to set the completed color wheel
on)
(6 per trio) Craft sticks
(3) metal spoons to mix the frosting
(3) cupcake wrappers per group

Paper towels for any messes

Hand sanitizer

Preparation: use food coloring to dye each container of frosting a different primary color: red, yellow,
and blue. Scoop 2 tablespoons of each color of frosting into individual cupcake wrappers for each
team of three.

As students enter the room, I will be squirting their hands with hand sanitizer and telling them to
follow the directions on the board, which says:

Welcome Work: Take out your color theory sheet and study for your test today (these were completed
previously using colored pencils. Students also knew beforehand the test would be today on color
theory).

Procedure:

1. After 2 minutes, I will tell the students to clear their desks of everything and explain the test to
them. I will tell them that this is going to be the most delicious test they will ever take. We are
going to make edible color wheels.

2. I will put the students into groups of three and tell them that each person in the group will be
in charge of a primary color. They are to decide which color they are in charge of and I will have
a couple of students help me distribute the materials. I will tell them that nothing goes into
their mouth, including sticks, spoons, and fingers. They will be allowed to split the color wheel
and eat the cookies only after I have checked their wheels for accuracy and taken a picture of
the group with their wheel (and they have cleaned up). If they break this rule they may not
continue the test.

Directions I will say to the class:

Each group is going to create and entire color wheel using the three primary colors just like we
did with our colored pencils. You are going to have to decide how much of each color you will
need to combine to make the appropriate color. Lets take a look at our color wheels and review
the different color schemes we are going to make today, which are the primary, secondary, and
tertiary or intermediate color schemes. What are the primary colors? Secondary? Tertiary?
Use your handout for guidance.

Wrap-up: This will take the entire class period. If the students have extra time they will write a
reflection of this assignment in their sketchbook. What did the student learn? What was easy?
What was difficult? What might the student have done differently?

Written on a poster board, to be hung up:

Edible Color Wheel Test!

Directions: You are going to work in a group of three to complete a color wheel using frosting
instead of colored pencils, like we did on our color theory handouts.

Each person is responsible for one primary color.

Each person will also be frosting 4 cookies each. Working together is part of your final
grade on this project.
You, as a group, are going to have to decide how much of each color you will need to
combine to make the appropriate color.
 Use your color wheel handout for guidance on mixing and placement of the cookies on
the color wheel.

**Remember, you may not eat your test until I have looked at it, approved it, and taken a photo of it
with your group. Then you may clean up and eat.