Mouse Paint....Learning about Color

Every year I introduce the Elements of Design to my 1st graders. We we have been learning about color and just completed our Mouse Paint project. I saw this idea on Artsonia probably 4 years ago and having been teaching it ever since. The kids always seem to enjoy this lesson.

Day one: We start by reading the story and discussing primary and secondary colors. Then we add circles of the primary colors on white 12x18 paper. The we mix the secondary colors and add circles. Then I let the kids mix all the colors together to get brown.
Day two: We use black sharpie and turn our circles into little mice. We then add extras like cheese, paint buckets and the cat. We finish by adding crayon. I like how this student colored the background.