Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Value Ice Cream Cones

3rd graders learned that value in art is the lightness or darkness of a color. Students also learned the terms tint and shade. Tint is when you lighten a color by adding white. Shade is when you darken a color by adding black.
3rd graders practiced painting a value scale from light to dark using the color of their choice. Next, they turned their paintings into ice cream scoops!


  1. I want to make sure I have the process right before I try this. :)

    Did they do the entire value scale on one piece of paper and then make their own template for the scoops?

    Thank you and can I say how much I love and value your blog. :)

  2. Thank you! Sorry, I just saw your comment today...
    Yes, we make a value scale by folding a long piece of paper in half and then in half again, and again. Until we have 6 equal squares. Then we paint! The next day we cut apart squares and draw an ice cream scoop on the back. Some students traced their first scoop again and again, some did different scoops on each square. Hope this helps! :)

  3. ooh, this is a great lessonon value! i am so going to use it!

    new art blog for my lessons, too-

  4. I love it! How do you get them to create a value scale? Like do they each have a paint container in front of them? Water? How do you set-up the table with materials to organize and allow each child to mix tints AND shades?