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Lesson 4 of 6
Lesson 4 of 6
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Hot and cold colours
I can identify and mix hot and cold colours.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Know that a hot colour palette includes yellow, orange and red.
- Know that a cold colour palette includes green, purple and blue.
- Know that tints and shades can be used to extend a palette of colour, and that these can affect our mood or feeling.
Keywords
Hot colours - hues, tints and shades of yellow, orange and red
Cold colours - hues, tints and shades of green, blue and purple
Palette - the name we give to a group of colours that are used within an artwork
Common misconception
Hot or cold colours can change the temperature.
Remind children that these colours do not really change the temperature, but they can make people feel warmer by looking at them, as they remind them of hot things like the sun or a fire.
If children are confident with colour mixing, they could be given the choice of a hot or cold colour palette. If children are less confident, they could be guided with either a hot or cold palette.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Poster paint in red, blue, yellow, white and black, paintbrushes, water pots, a range of materials to manipulate the paint and use as painting tools, such as conkers, leaves and pinecones.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
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4 Questions
Q1.A tint is made by adding ...
A tint is made by adding ...
purple
gold
black
Q2.What colour is made by mixing red and yellow?
What colour is made by mixing red and yellow?
Black
White
Q3.When you add black to a colour you make a ...
When you add black to a colour you make a ...
tint
light
Q4.Which of the following are primary colours
Which of the following are primary colours
orange
green
Assessment exit quiz
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4 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a hot colour?
Which of these is a hot colour?
Green
Blue
Q2.Which of the following are secondary colours?
Which of the following are secondary colours?
orange
Q3.Which of these is a cold colour?
Which of these is a cold colour?
Green
Red
Q4.Hot colours can actually change the temperature around us. True or false?
Hot colours can actually change the temperature around us. True or false?
True