Color Wheel Christmas Ornament Art Project

Today we’ll combine the fun of a holiday craft with the freedom of process art as we make a Paper Pop-Up Color Wheel Ornament. This color wheel Christmas ornament art project can be a visual reminder and learning tool for identifying the primary colors and learning to create the secondary colors during Christmas theme activities. This winter art project combines papercraft with a variety of non-traditional painting techniques that children will love! Fine motor skill development is on full display with cutting, folding, stamping, printing, and painting fun for all ages! 

Color Wheel Vocabulary to Review Before Making Art

Primary Colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue

Secondary Colors: Orange, Purple, and Green 

Red + Blue = Purple

Blue + Yellow = Green

Yellow + Red = Orange

Complementary Colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel.

Red and Green are complementary colors.

Blue and Orange are complementary colors.

Yellow and Purple are complementary colors.

Materials

• Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Metallic Paper
• Pipe Cleaners 
• White Tempera Paint
• Green Tempera Paint
• Cardboard
• Sticks
• Hot Glue Gun
• A Variety of Cups and Plates

Step By Step Directions

1. Art and Nature

Step outside and gather some sticks. 

2. Process Art 

Let’s create a snowstorm on blue paper by painting with cups and sticks! Dip the open end of a small cup in white paint and hop about on the blue paper.

Next, dip the end of a small stick into white paint and add snowflakes. 

3. Circle Time

Trace a plate or other round object to make the shape of the ornament. Trace a smaller cup (about half the size as the plate you traced) to make six circles-red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, and green. Cut out all of the circles. 

4. The Color Wheel

Fold the six small circles in half to make little tacos. Glue them onto the paper ornament in a circular pattern starting with the three primary colors and filling in with the secondary colors.  As you’re working it’s helpful to view a photo of a color wheel in order to glue the colors in the correct order. 

5. Trim the Tree

Glue the paper ornament to your blue paper and add a silver or gold topper and pipe cleaner hook. Grownups please use a hot glue gun to attach a stick to the paper and children can add pine needles by dipping a small piece of cardboard into paint and stamping to make a natural pine texture.

Talk About Art

1. Identify the primary colors.

2. How do you make orange, purple, and green?

3. Which painting technique did you enjoy the most?

4. What season is your artwork depicting? How can you tell?

Art and Technology

Consider showing this coloring mixing video by OK Go and Sesame Street before making this art project. My students love to sing and dance along to the primary and secondary colors.

Art and Literacy

A great book to share with young artists interested in learning about mixing colors is called Mouse Paint. This adorable story by Ellen Stoll Walsh has mice jumping and dancing in primary color paint jars and creating secondary colors. 

I hope you have fun making art today with me, learn some color theory, and get into the holiday spirit! Please tag @fantasticfunandlearning and @youngschoolartwithmr.g on Instagram so we can see your colorful ornaments!

CONNECT WITH VIN GIANNETTO

Learn more about Vin here on his author bio page. Follow along with him on Facebook at Young School Art with Mr. Giannetto and on Instagram @youngschoolartwithmr.g for art project ideas.

MORE ART AND CRAFT PROJECT IDEAS FROM VIN

GET A FULL SET OF CHRISTMAS THEME PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Explore the symbols and traditions of Christmas and incorporate reading, math, science and more in this 169-page preschool secular Christmas lesson plan set full of fun and playful Christmas learning activities for preschool. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:

The 169-page Christmas Lesson Plan Set includes hands-on activities and these additional printables:

1) Beginning Letters Gift Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

2) Reindeer Math Mats (2 versions in color and b/w)

3) My Christmas Senses Activity Book Making Pieces

4) 0-35 Christmas Number Cards (2 versions in color and b/w)

5) Christmas Counting Syllables Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

6) Christmas Picture-Word Cards (in color and b/w)

7) Ornament Play Dough Mats

8) Candy Cane Play Dough Writing Task Cards (shapes, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, number 0-20)

9) Christmas Light Patterns Activity Pieces (in color and b/w)

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.