The Art and Science of Mixing Paint
“This is so satisfying,” said a second grader at Meadow Pond Elementary. She was stirring a drop of red food dye into white oobleck that she and her partner had just made out of cornstarch and water. The crimson spiral became a less intense, more solid red with each rotation of her popsicle stick.
Second graders at Meadow Pond Elementary School all had a chance to make paint with Amy Stockfield, a district art teacher who works with both elementary and high school students on design process. The project connects to the second-grade science unit on chromatography and changes in matter.
Second graders at Increase Miller Elementary School and Katonah Elementary School will do this project with their art teachers in the coming weeks. The students will use their paint in art class throughout the winter.
"Keep Stirring"
Incorporating science, art, math, and more
Ms. Stockfield put the recipe for paint on the art class’s white board. Students could read along and double check their steps.
Following any recipe reinforces math skills of measuring and counting.
Mixing colors opens a discussion on primary colors, how to create secondary colors, and why blending all three primary colors produces brown.
Talking about the process develops observation and language skills.
