Color STEM Activity: Color Mixing Tops

This fun color STEM activity is a little bit science, a little bit art, and a whole lot of fun!

We tried to see if we could mix colors through motion and came up with some awesome results with these Color Mixing Tops.

Our color mixing tops were simple to make and used supplies that you probably already have at home.

So, let’s get out the craft supplies and get ready to have fun with this STEAM activity.

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Supplies Needed

Thin cardboard (recycled cereal or cracker box)
Circle template
Scissors
Paint – red, blue, yellow
Toothpicks

How to Make a Color Mixing Top

We used our circle template (the top of our Barrel of Monkeys) to trace a few circles on our cereal box. A drinking glass or a can would also work for your template.

You only need one circle per top. We made four different tops to test our different color combinations.

After we cut out our circles, we divided them into four equal sections.

Using our primary paint colors, we alternated the colors in each section. We used only two colors per top.

As an alternative, my 5-year-old divided her circles in half, with each half a different color.

Once our paint was dry, I made a tiny hole in the center of each top. (Use a pair of sharp scissors or a paper clip to make the hole.)

If you divided your top into quarters, the center is very easy to find.

We then poked a toothpick into the middle of each circle.

Color STEM Activity

They turned out so pretty! But, did they work? There’s nothing left to do but try to see if they word.

We started spinning and were amazed to see the colors blend together. So cool!

I tried my hardest to get some good pictures, but it wasn’t easy! Have you ever tried to photograph a spinning top in low light? Boy, is that tough! I got plenty of crummy pictures, but I was able to capture one that showed the color mixture effect.

In the photo below. We were spinning our red and yellow top from the picture above. Can you see the orange?

We also discovered that the tops divided into quarters blended the colors much better than the ones divided into halves.

I always love combining science and art. We always have so much fun!

And, this color STEM activity was the perfect activity to combine science and art. We learned a lot while we got creative.

You may also like one of these STEM activities:

Melting Crayons Science Experiment

Marshmallow Engineering

Color Mixing Lab

Art + Science: Sun Prints

Color Pattern Projectors at Teach Beside Me