Modeling Clay Color Mixing for Kids

Color mixing for kids is a fascinating activity. This modeling clay color mixing activity teaches the basics of primary colors, color mixing and the science behind colors.

We used modeling clay for our experiment, but you can also use any other sort of clay or dough where the colors will actually combine.

So rather than worrying that your kids are mixing up their play dough or clay color, delight your kids and encourage them to mix things up in this activity!

Be sure to check out our other fun family-friendly kid activities and crafts!

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Modeling Clay Color Mixing for Kids

Follow these steps to set up your own modeling clay color lab.

You can also use play dough, if you don’t have any modeling clay on hand.

What you’ll need:

Discuss what primary colors are with your kids and how we know they are primary colors.

The primary colors were originally identified because with those three colors, you can make just about any other colors that exist.

Light, pigments and printer ink all have their own variations of primary colors.

For example, a printer has cyan, magenta, and yellow as its primary colors and from those, it can make any color except true black.

In paint (or clay), red, yellow, and blue are made.

However, the hue of the three original colors will have influence on the final color, as we found out.

Our mixed colors were not as vivid as what we are used to seeing.

Give your kids three yellow pieces, three red pieces, and three blue pieces.

Instruct them to mix one of each color with the other colors.

What will they end up with?

Of course, you know that red and blue makes purple, red and yellow makes orange, and blue and yellow makes green, but this will be new information for your kids!

For older kids, you can get more in-depth discussing how to make colors. Learn how to mix greens.