A good WebQuest provides students an opportunity to learn in a way that is fun. It lists clear guidelines and expectations. It's engaging and thought-provoking.
Color Theory and The Color Wheel is all of these things!
Color theory is a very important part of the curriculum in the art room. It serves as a building block to almost all other lessons. Color is one aspect of art that students will continue to learn about year after year.
This WebQuest starts by instructing students to read about basic color theory and view examples of color wheels. A worksheet is included for students to record the information that they are learning. After students have completed their research, they are able to print a blank color wheel and then use tempera paint to fill it in. Students will have to mix the paint colors in order to complete their color wheels. I predict that most students will really enjoy this part of the lesson because they will be able to experience color theory for themselves.
Activity 2 requires students to apply their knowledge of color theory and the color wheel to famous works of art. Students are required to identify analyze the color schemes used in famous paintings. Once they have identified and analyzed the artwork, their task is to create their own painting based on the one that they learned about. Students are separated into groups based on their birth month. Each task along the way is well-defined and includes examples for the students to follow.
I found the teacher page to be a great resource. Many WebQuests that I read were lacking in this area, but not this one. The teacher page made it easy for almost anyone to follow the WebQuest. It lists all of the necessary materials and supplies and even gives the teacher tips on how to set-up the classroom. Some of the answers are provided on this page as well.
Overall this WebQuest uses graphics effectively to make it visually appealing to students. It's easy to read and has a sound layout. Many other WebQuests that I read had outdated information and links, but not this one. The activities are compelling and engaging. Students are not only building on their prior knowledge of colors, and artistic styles, but they are immediately using their new knowledge to complete a project. The provided rubric clearly states how the assignment will be evaluated. The instructions for each activity are clearly laid-out so students can complete this assignment with very little assistance. I did not find this to be true of quite a few other WebQuests that I read. Another great thing about this WebQuest is that it relates to standards at several different grade levels, which means it's easily adaptable for several different age levels.
I believe this WebQuest does a great job of combining technology and hands-on learning!
