7th Grade starts out with Color Theory. I tell my students - "You must eat the vegetables before eating the meat and potatoes." I consider color theory to be the nutritious vegetables of dinner that are best eaten piping hot. It only makes sense. No one likes to eat cold peas.
If we get color theory out of the way as a first project we get to enjoy the rest of the meal, (the painting and sculpting). By the end of the first two weeks of school my students are REALLY SICK of using only three crayons (primary - Magenta, Cyan, Yellow) on a 7 page color theory packet that gives the students a detailed understanding of color mixing and schemes. To reward my students I bring in the COOKIE COLOR WHEEL. A hit with any age group. I have used this with 9th grade students and it is a hit with elementary. My middle school students loved the reward!
