Color Wheel Art Lesson Element of Art Color 5th Grade Color Wheel Art Project

This Color Wheel Grizzly Bear Art Lesson teaches the element of art: color through a bold grizzly bear artwork divided into color wheel sections. It is designed for Grade 5, and students learn how artists use color to create mood, contrast, harmony, emphasis, depth and visual interest.

Instead of only filling in a color wheel worksheet, students use primary colors, secondary colors, tints and shades in an expressive bear they can design themselves. The lesson blends art-making with reading, writing, reflection and creative choice, and it suits elementary art teachers, classroom teachers, substitute teachers and homeschool families.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF WITH POWERPOINT SLIDESHOW)

• Detailed Grade 5 lesson plans and suggested visual art standards
• Teacher guide about color and the color wheel, with critical-thinking questions
• Color anchor chart, color wheel student handout and Color Wheel Grizzly handout
• Create Tints and Shades color theory practice page
• Grizzly bear template, cut-and-glue forest artwork elements and a Build-a-Grizzly Bear planning page
• Visual step-by-step tutorial, finished artwork example, art rubric and bulletin board display sign
• Fast-finisher grizzly coloring page and draw-and-design activity
• KWL chart about color
• Read-and-respond passage about color in art, with reading comprehension questions and answer key
• Spelling word list and spelling test
• Extension activities: Explore Line, gray scale exploration, line zen doodle, shapes and forms, mandala design and emphasis
• Writing activities: opinion writing about color, color writing and mood writing
• Analysis pages: artwork message reflection, Elements and Principles analysis, and a complementary and analogous colors compare-and-contrast activity with answer key
• Reflection pages: goal setting, artwork reflection, peer feedback, 3 Stars and a Wish, and artist statement pages
• PowerPoint presentation about color, the color wheel, primary, secondary and tertiary colors, warm and cool colors, complementary and analogous colors, tints, shades, mood, contrast, harmony and emphasis
• PowerPoint step-by-step project presentation
• Bonus link/QR code to a video demonstration

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

Students identify red, yellow and blue as the primary colors, review how they mix to make secondary colors, and create tints and shades. They see how color choices can make an artwork feel energetic, calm, dramatic, peaceful, bold, mysterious or imaginative.

Students can use the grizzly bear template or design their own bear on the Build-a-Grizzly Bear page, choosing different snouts, noses, ears, eyes and details. The bear is divided into color sections so they apply color wheel learning directly, then they add forest details with the cut-and-glue elements for a layered piece that is ready to display.

FAQ

What grade is this designed for?

Grade 5, though it can be adapted for nearby elementary grades depending on student ability and the support you provide.

Is there a video demonstration?

Yes. A bonus link/QR code to a video demonstration is included. The video is streamed online and is not a downloadable video file.

How long does the lesson take?

Most classes need about 2 to 4 art periods, depending on class length, drying time, student independence and which writing or extension activities you include.

Is this suitable for homeschool art?

Yes. The lesson plan, slideshow, templates, reading and writing pages, reflections and video support make it easy to use at home or in a homeschool co-op.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use the images as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations, and use this in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like. Additional licenses are available for school use.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, put it on your blog, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic