Exploring Complementary Colours

Age Group

7–9 years (KS2 Year 3 and Year 4)

Duration

1 hour

National Curriculum Links (Art & Design)

• Key Stage 2 - National Curriculum for England
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • Learn about the roles and purposes of artists, craftspeople and designers in different times and cultures
  • Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand the concept of the colour wheel and identify primary, secondary, and complementary colours (NC KS2)
• Recognise how complementary colours contrast and create visual impact in artworks
• Apply knowledge of complementary colours to create a simple, balanced artwork
• Develop observational and mixing skills through practical activities

Resources Needed

• Pre-drawn blank colour wheels (large enough for colouring)
• Paint sets (red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple) and brushes
• Colour pencils and crayons
• White paper or card
• Examples of artworks featuring complementary colours (printed or digital images)
• Colour mixing palettes or paper plates
• Visual aid posters: colour wheel and complementary colours pairs
• Projector or interactive whiteboard

Lesson Overview

Starter (10 minutes)

• Begin with a brief interactive discussion: What colours do you know? Can you name the primary colours? List them on board (Red, Yellow, Blue).
• Introduce the colour wheel using visual aids. Show the position of primary and secondary colours.
• Explain complementary colours in simple terms: colours opposite each other on the wheel (e.g. red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple).
• Teacher uses a quick demonstration to show how complementary colours maximise contrast and ‘pop’ when placed beside each other.

Main Activity (40 minutes)

1. Colour Wheel Creation (15 minutes)

   • Each student receives their own blank colour wheel.
   • Teacher guides students in colouring the wheel with accurate primary and secondary colours using pencils/crayons or paint.
   • Emphasise the correct placement of complementary colours opposite each other.

2. Complementary Colour Mixing (15 minutes)

   • Using paint, students experiment mixing primary colours to make secondary colours on palettes.
   • Then, using paint brushes, they create small patches of complementary colours next to each other to observe vibrancy and contrast.
   • Teacher supports individual students, encouraging reflection on what happens when complementary colours interact.

3. Complementary Colour Artwork (10 minutes)

   • Students create a simple artwork (e.g., a flower, fruit, or abstract design) that uses at least one pair of complementary colours to make parts of the image stand out.
   • Encourage simple shapes and deliberate colour choice based on their colour wheel knowledge.

Plenary (10 minutes)

• Invite students to share their artwork and discuss which complementary colours they used and why.
• Recap how complementary colours affect visual impact and mood in art.
• Quick quiz: teacher shows colour pairs and asks “Are these complementary colours?” to reinforce learning.
• Highlight how this knowledge can be used in design and everyday creative activities.

Assessment

• Informal formative assessment through:
  • Observation of participation during discussion and practical tasks
  • Evaluation of colour wheel accuracy (correct colours and placement)
  • Review of student artwork for use of complementary colours
• End of lesson quick quiz for understanding of complementary colour concept

Differentiation

• For students requiring support: provide colouring templates with colour names and visual guides, allow use of crayons/pencils which are easier to control than brushes, provide paired work for peer assistance.
• For more able students: challenge them to create patterns using multiple complementary pairs or explore the effect of mixing complementary colours to create neutral tones.

Cross-Curricular Links

• Science: Observation and mixing of colours links to light and colour perception.
• Maths: Understanding of arrangement and opposites on the colour wheel connects to spatial awareness.

Extension Ideas

• Homework task: find examples of complementary colour pairs in the environment or in media (magazines, adverts), bring photos or cutouts to share.
• Plan a future project using complementary colours for designing greetings cards, posters or school displays.

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This plan supports the National Curriculum requirements by delivering hands-on, reflective art practice combined with knowledge of colour theory, supporting both skill and conceptual understanding in a meaningful, memorable way.