Color Mixing Activity for Kids

We created this color mixing activity as a sponsored learning activity for Testors®. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. We hope you and your children enjoy exploring colors with this fun art activity.

Looking for a fun way to explore primary and secondary colors with your children? This simple color mixing activity is a great way to combine both science and art at home or school when learning all about colors.

Close up image of the completed color mixing activity on a pink background with red, blue and yellow Testors paint bottles laying next to craft on a pink background with colored poms scattered around.

Kids will have a blast with this hands on activity mixing together colors and using them to create a beautiful color wheel craft. Make sure to grab our free color wheel printable template to make prep for this activity super simple too.

We used Testors® Craft acrylic paints in this fun color mixing activity. We have a huge collection of the acrylic paints in our crafting supplies and I love them. Not only does Testors® have a fantastic collection of color assortments available, but they are multipurpose so I love how we can use them on all sorts of surfaces for all our crafting needs.

Finished color wheel craft propped against a white shiplap background with Testors red, yellow and blue acrylic paint bottles and craft poms sitting in front of the artwork.

They are also water based and non-toxic so they are perfect for all of our kids arts and crafts projects like the color mixing activity we are sharing today.

We have also loved using their pouring paints and marbling medium to create gorgeous marbled Christmas ornaments and this beautiful Mother’s Day artwork.

Square close up image of color mixing craft laying on a pink background with bottles of Testors yellow, blue and red paint bottles laying in the top left corner.

Easy Color Mixing Activity for Kids

Read our step-by-step instructions below for how to use Testors® Craft acrylic paints and our free color wheel template to have an afternoon of fun exploring colors with your kids with this simple color mixing activity.

We also have a video tutorial inside this post you will find helpful before getting starting on this playful learning activity.

Supplies Needed for this fun Color Mixing Activity:

How to set up and complete the color activity with your kids

1.Download and print out both pages of the color wheel printable template on white cardstock paper and gather the rest of your supplies.

Have children cut out along the dashed lines of the first page of the template, cutting out each individual piece of the color wheel. Set aside the second page of the template to use later.

Get the Color Wheel Printable HERE

Photo of supplies needed for the color mixing activity

Start by Exploring Primary Colors

2. Set out three pieces from the color wheel template, along with three paper plates and three paintbrushes. Cover your surface with a sheet of paper or a placemat to protect it from paint.

3. Get out the red, yellow and blue paint bottles from your Testors® Primary Acrylic Paint Set. Discuss with your preschoolers or children how these are the three primary colors.

Four image collage showing the printed out color wheel template, an adult pouring a small amount of red paint on a paper plate and painting one of the color wheel triangle sections with red paint.

4. Pour some red paint onto a paper plate. Use a paintbrush to paint one of the color wheel pieces red. Then pour yellow and blue paint on the other two paper plates and use a paintbrush to paint a piece of the color wheel with the blue paint and another piece with the yellow paint.

5. Set each of the painted color wheel pieces aside to dry completely.

Four image color showing someone painting one of the color wheel triangles with blue paint and yellow paint. Then mixing the red and orange paint together to make orange and painting a section of the color wheel with the orange paint.

Mixing colors together to Make Secondary Colors

Now comes the fun part of mixing the primary colors together to create secondary colors.

6. Start with your paper plate that has red paint on it. Pour some yellow paint on top of the red paint. Use the paintbrush to mix the red and yellow paint together to create orange paint.

7. After creating your orange paint, paint a section of the color wheel template with it and then set it aside to dry with the others.

You might find as you mix the colors together that you need to add a little bit more of one of the colors to achieve the shade of color you desire. This is another great way to explore colors and shades of colors with children.

Four image collage with top two photos showing someone mixing together blue and yellow paint to make green and painting a color wheel section with it. Then the bottom two photos showing someone mixing red and blue paint to make purple and painting a color wheel piece with it.

8. Pour blue paint onto the paper plate with yellow paint on it and mix them together with a paintbrush to create green paint. Paint a section of the color wheel template with the green paint and then set it aside to dry with the others.

9. Pour red paint onto the paper plate with blue paint on it and mix them together with a paintbrush to create purple paint. Paint a section of the color wheel template with the purple paint and then set it aside to dry with the others.

Four image collage showing someone gluing the color wheel template on a piece of white cardstock paper, how to glue each color section on the wheel and someone gluing the color names around the wheel.

Assembling the Color Wheel together

After each of the painted color wheel pieces have dried completely, you can assemble the color wheel together.

10. Cut out the color wheel template and the color labels on the second page of the printable template. Add glue on the back of the color wheel and glue it in the center of a 12-inch by 12-inch sheet of white cardstock paper.

11. Add glue on the back of the red, yellow and blue painted pieces and glue them on the color wheel, leaving an empty space between them for each of the secondary colors.

Horizontal close up image of finished color wheel craft with Testors red, blue and yellow paint bottles laying around it.

12. Now add glue on the back of the orange, green and purple painted pieces and glue them on the color wheel between the correct colors on the wheel.

13. Finish your color wheel craft by gluing each of the color labels on the correct color around the wheel.

Visit Testors® website for more information about their craft products and to get more arts and crafts inspiration. 

Vertical close up image of finished color wheel activity with red, blue and yellow bottles of paint laying in the top right corner and the words "Color Mixing Activity" in the top left corner.

More Fun Color Preschool Activities

This simple color scavenger hunt is another fun way for preschoolers to explore colors. You can add colors on the front of the paper bag with markers or use some of Testors® acrylic paints.

Add a fun fine motor activity into your color unit by creating this yarn wrapped cloud and rainbow craft. The painted clothespins are a fun way to teach colors and learn about rainbows.

Here’s a fun way to repurpose bubble wrap and explore color with preschoolers while creating these colorful bubble wrap printed rainbows.

We love combining craft time with story time in preschool. This fun liquid watercolor rainbow art project is a great project to make when learning about colors and goes great with the book “My Color is Rainbow.”

Two image vertical collage with top picture showing completed color wheel craft and bottom photo showing adult gluing pieces onto color wheel. Words "Color Mixing Preschool Activity" in the center between the two photos.

Paper bowl pumpkin craft propped up on an angle in center with two more pumpkin crafts out of focus in the background.

Easy Paper Bowl Pumpkin Craft for Kids

Five paper plates spiders in different colors clumped together on a pink background.

Paper Plate Spiders