Explore art with an Alabama color walk

July 5, 6:14 AMEarly Childhood Educational Activities ExaminerStarr Weems de Graffenried

Have you ever glanced back and forth between a color chip and a can of paint and asked yourself, “Is this the same color?”

It might seem like distinguishing subtle color variations has more to do with your eyesight than practice, but the truth is that it is a skill that can be developed. You and your children or students can cultivate this useful skill together by heading out on a color walk. This activity was modified from the book Brain Child.

To start, you will need some crayons or pencils. Make sure that you have lots of color variety. Pack the colors up along with a sketchbook, a snack and a digital camera.

Next, you will need to select a place for your walk. You will want to go somewhere where you will be able to see lots of different colors. One of our North Alabama farmer's markets is a good choice, as is the square in historic downtown Athens, especially on one of the cruise-in days.

Now you are ready to head out for your color walk. Your goal is to match the color of items that you see on your walk with the color of your crayon or colored pencil. Each time you match a color, snap a picture of the item.

Once you have finished looking for colors, find a relaxing place to sit and sketch pictures of what you have found in accurate, real-life colors. You can use your photographs for reference. Try repeating this activity in different locations and during different seasons of the year.

For more information, see:

How to Teach Kids About Color with an Art Hike

Exploration Station's Nature Hunt and Spring Color Walk

Teach Kids Color Theory with a Fun Water Activity

Snip and Snail Color Walks