Thinking sheet · Art and artists

Tints and Shades

Add white to make a tint and black to make a shade. Make a five-step strip, then paint a picture in one color family.

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Grades
2–5
Time
about 25 minutes
Kids practice
color mixing, value, monochrome art

What kids do

“One color, lots of versions! Add white to lighten and black to darken.”

  1. Tints (add white):
  2. Shades (add black):
  3. A picture using only tints and shades of one color
  4. My color and how it made me feel:

How to run it

  • Paint works best; crayons can layer white or black on top.
  • Add black a tiny bit at a time: it takes over fast!
  • Show a monochrome painting for inspiration.

Talk about it

  • Which tint looks like a pastel?
  • Did the shade still look like your color?
  • What mood does one color give?

Take it further

Make a tint and shade strip for a second color and compare.

Pairs well with

Free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.

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