Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Colour Wheel Fill the Gaps: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Colour Wheel Fill the Gaps is a free printable art worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children mix paint colours in their heads and on paper, then fill the gaps in the sentences using a word bank. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children read sentences about mixing paint colours and fill each gap with a word from the word bank. The colours they meet are red, yellow, blue, orange, green and purple. They need to read carefully, think about which colours go together and choose the right word. The sheet also has boxes for drawing or notes, so children can try a colour out before they write.
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
- Orange
- Green
- Purple
Getting ready to mix
Gather simple paint
Red, yellow and blue paint is enough. Add a brush, a paper plate to mix on and a pot of water. Crayons or colouring pencils also work if paint feels too messy.
Cover the table
Lay down newspaper or an old cloth. Put on an apron or old shirt. Children can then mix freely without worrying about spills.
Keep a spare sheet of paper
Children can test a mix on scrap paper before they write a word. Trying first makes the reading feel easier and more fun.
Why teach colour mixing in Year 1?
Colour is one of the first things young children notice and name. In Key Stage 1 art, children are taught to use colour in their work, and mixing paint is a hands on way to do that. They see colours change as they stir, and the change gives them real words to use, such as mix, darker and lighter.
A colour wheel arranges colours in a circle so that you can see how they relate to each other. For Year 1, the idea is simple. Some colours are starting colours in paint, and other colours can be made by mixing those starting colours. Fill the gaps links the words to the ideas, so children read, think and remember.
Fun colour facts
- A rainbow appears when sunlight shines through raindrops.
- Artists use a colour wheel to see how colours sit next to each other.
- Adding white paint to a colour makes it lighter.
- Mixing lots of different paint colours together often makes a muddy brown or grey.
- The word colour is spelled with a u in British English.
Skills and curriculum link
- Colour names
- Mixing colours
- Reading carefully
- Using a word bank
- Early art vocabulary
Tips for mixing paint
- Start smallPut a small blob of each colour on the plate. It is easier to add more than to take paint away.
- Mix slowlyStir the two colours together until no streaks are left. Watch the colour change as you stir.
- Rinse the brushWash the brush and dab it dry before you pick up a new colour. This keeps the colours clean.
- Test on scrap paperPaint a small patch to check the colour. Children can compare it with the colour word they are reading.
Key words
- Colour wheelColours placed in a circle so we can see how they go together.
- Primary colourA starting colour in paint. It is used to mix other colours.
- Secondary colourA colour you make by mixing two other colours together.
- MixStir two or more things together so they become one.
- Word bankA list of words to choose from when you fill in the gaps.
- GapA space in a sentence where a word is missing.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown-up.
- Read the sentences together. Point to each word as you read so your child can follow along.
- Let your child choose words from the word bank to fill the gaps. Talk about each choice as you go.
- Check together using the notes on page 2. Ask, "How did you decide on that word?" The thinking matters as much as the answer.
- Come back to the sheet on another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give your child real paint or crayons to mix before writing the words. Let them see the colours change on scrap paper first. Then read one sentence at a time, point to the word bank and talk through each choice together.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child what colour they would get from mixing blue and red with a lot more blue. Let them guess first and then test it with paint. Can they make it darker or lighter? Talk about what changed.
Make it a game
Paint each box with the colour it names. Mix the secondary colours from the primaries. Lay the finished boxes in a circle on the table, like a colour wheel, and read the colour names aloud together.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes a word in the wrong gap because they guessed without reading the whole sentence.
Try thisRead the full sentence aloud first. Ask, "Does that word make sense here?" Then try the word again.
Watch forThe paint turns a dull brownish colour when mixed.
Try thisThe brush may still have another colour on it, or too many colours have been mixed. Rinse the brush, dab it dry and start again with only two colours.
Watch forA child knows the colours by sight but cannot find the matching word.
Try thisHold a crayon of that colour next to the word bank. Say the colour name together, then look for the word that starts with the same sound.
Talk about it
- What is your favourite colour? Can you find it on the sheet?
- What happened when you mixed two colours together?
- Can you find something in the room that is the same colour as one on the sheet?
- Which colour was the hardest to mix? Why do you think so?
- What would you paint if you could only use three colours?
- How are the colours on the sheet like the colours in a rainbow?
Take it off the page
Colour hunt
Choose a colour and walk around the house or garden. Find as many things in that colour as you can. Then choose another colour and try again.
Finger paint wheel
Draw a large circle on paper and split it into sections. Fill the sections with finger paint, mixing the colours on the paper as you go. Wash hands well afterwards.
Colour sorting
Sort crayons, building blocks or socks into colour groups. Say each colour name as you place the item in its group.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Real paint or crayons help a lot. Praise the thinking and the trying, not only the right answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter before an art lesson, as a plenary after a colour mixing session, or as an early finisher task. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider art plan. It pairs well with picture books about colour, nature walks and painting time. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit the topic a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children learn to name colours and sort objects by colour. They also practise reading short sentences and using a word bank. Playing with paint and crayons gives them a feel for how colours behave.
After this sheet, children can use colour more confidently in their own paintings and drawings. They can talk about lighter and darker colours, and choose colours on purpose. In Year 2 they build on these skills with more art techniques and more detailed descriptions.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Colour Wheel Fill the Gaps for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It can also work for confident Reception children with a grown-up reading along, or for Year 2 children who need a gentle refresher.
- What will children practise?
Children practise colour names, mixing colours and careful reading. They name primary and secondary colours and say which two colours mix to make each one. This links to the Key Stage 1 art aim to use colour in their work.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print as many copies as you need for your own family or class.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Real paint or crayons give the colour, so children get to do the mixing themselves.
- What if it feels too hard?
Give your child real paint or crayons to mix before writing the words. Seeing the colours change makes the sentences easier to understand. Work through the sheet together, one sentence at a time.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Add paint or crayons if you want children to mix colours as they go.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.