Montessori color tablets are arranged by color and a light to dark spectrum (Box 3). Now children can take their awareness of colors to the next level.
Additive primary colors = Red + Green + Blue light.
Subtractive primary colors = Cyan + Magenta + Yellow + black ink
Project: Take three flashlights. Try making (or buying) transparent filters in both sets of primary colors. Your child can experiment with mixing the colored beams by shining them on a white backgrouns. Children will be inspired to try out many different combinations of lights and backgrounds.
Experiment with color combinations of both palettes using paints and inks.
Once you show your child how the filters and lights work, let them work independently. The art supplies should already be available, so they can easily try color combinations with independent projects.
Note: Many children’s products that “teach” colors are incorrect, so it is easiest to avoid them. All we need are lights, colored filters, and a range of different paints.
For adults, this MIT Art of Color course (free) covers good basics.