Experimenting with Blends of Food Coloring and Water
Discover the fascinating world of colour mixing with this easy-to-follow activity suitable for all ages! From the primary colours of Red, Yellow, and Blue, to the vibrant tertiary colours, this activity is an exciting journey into the realm of colour.
First, gather your materials: plastic plates, water, beakers, food colouring, and pipettes or droppers. The activity begins by adding small amounts of red, yellow, and blue food colouring to separate beakers, then topping up with a little water.
Using pipettes or droppers, drop different colours of water onto a plastic plate. As you mix the colours, watch as new hues emerge! The new colours created on the plastic plate are recorded, offering an opportunity to document your colourful creations.
The activity allows for experimentation by trying to make as many different shades of one colour as possible. For example, by mixing red and red-orange, you can create a spectrum of red tones. Similarly, you can create various shades of orange by mixing red and yellow.
Tertiary colours are created by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour. For instance, red-orange is formed by mixing red (primary) and orange (secondary), while yellow-orange is made by combining yellow (primary) and orange (secondary).
This activity also opens up the possibility of creating secondary colours. Green (made by mixing Yellow and Blue), Orange (made by mixing Red and Yellow), and Purple (made by mixing Blue and Red) are all secondary colours that can be created by mixing primary colours.
It's important to note that while filter paper or kitchen roll could potentially be used for colour mixing, their effects are unknown. Using a paper plate instead of a plastic plate might affect the mixing of colours, so it's best to stick with plastic for this activity.
Intrigued by the science behind colour mixing? Light can be split into all the colours of the rainbow, a phenomenon known as dispersion. This activity is a hands-on way to understand and appreciate the beauty of colour mixing.
Lastly, it's essential to remember that this article was last updated on July 18, 2025, by Emma Vanstone. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we encourage readers to verify facts and conduct their own research.
Happy colour mixing!
- Engage your children in a captivating science project that delves into the world of color mixing, using materials like plastic plates, water, beakers, food coloring, and pipettes or droppers.
- By experimenting with different quantities of red, yellow, and blue food coloring, children can create various tertiary colors such as red-orange (by mixing red and orange) and yellow-orange (by mixing yellow and orange).
- This activity is more than just a home-and-garden pastime; it's an opportunity to learn about the scientific principles behind color mixing, like secondary colors (green, orange, and purple) formed by blending primary colors.
- As your kids immerse themselves in this activity, encourage them to explore the fascinating realm of color by creating different shades of a single hue or mixing primary and secondary colors to produce vibrant tertiary colors.