Outcomes:  To explore color theory, primary, secondary, warm and cool, grays and browns…the works. 

Materials:  Large  white paper about 12×18 inches, several sheets of drawing paper, oil pastels of many colors, pencils, scissors, glue and kindergartners.

Art History component:  Look at the history of colors-how were they named?  Look at common color names in different languages.  Look at a LARGE box of Crayola crayons and check out some of the unique names for the obscure colors.

Steps: 

1. Look at art history and crayon names and discuss with students.  What colors would they create if they could?  What color would they call the sky at night?  A murky lake? 
2. Pass out paper in half sheets and oil pastels, one box to two kids, but remove the black.
3. Have the children choose two oil pastels to mix on there half sheet, filling as much of it as possible with their new color.  Make sure their name is on the back of the paper with pencil.  Show them how to press hard and soft and the difference in ‘shade’ and suggest that they fill the page with one color before adding the second. 
4. On another half sheet, have the children each choose three oil pastels and mix those three, again filling the sheet trying to get the same color on the whole sheet.  (Don’t expect miracles, whatever they end up with will be beautiful.)
5. Do they same process with two again, and they with three, until you have at least 4 half sheets filled with glorious color. 
6. Take a new crayon out of the box and talk about the shape of it.  Direct the children to ‘rectangle with a triangle on top’. Using a half sheet filled with a color you have created as an example, cut all the way up almost to the top, make a ‘point’ and then cut down to mimic the shape of a crayon. 
7. Pass out scissors and have the children make a crayon shape with each piece of color paper they have created.  Continue to encourage them to make them the length of the paper or you will end up with some tiny little things. 
8. When each child has four ‘crayons’ ready to go pass out the black pastels, have one for each child.  One can also use black tip permanent makers for this last step, but only if you trust you group not to tattoo themselves!
9. Draw on the ‘paper’ lines, one at the top and one at the bottom (show them on your example) and then talk about what to name them.  What does it look like to you?  Lime pie?  Yucky water?  Have the children sound out there names as best as they can, and help them when needed by writing the word to copy on another piece of paper.  Let them write on their own work. 
10. The second half of the project is creating the box for the crayons.   Have an example box created.  Show the children how to fold the paper ‘almost’ in half, like a hamburger bun with short side to short side, but leave a ‘lid’, like and envelope closure. 
11. Using a line of glue (not puddles!) glue the sides together and label and decorate, naming the crayons for instance ‘Stella’s fabulous box of Color’  or just Joe’s Colors.  Write some words like ‘crayon’ or ‘color’ on a white board or chalk board where they can all see and copy. 
12. Slip in the crayons, display and enjoy. 

Other lessons by me

• Lesson Plans for Kindergarten Art Clay Incense Burners
• Getting Kids in Touch Texture Activities for the Young
• A Lesson Plan for Kindergarten Art Clay Tiles