- Definition
Layering is when you put one material, like paint or paper, on top of another to build up an artwork.
Placing a piece of yellow tissue paper over a blue painted spot to create a new green colour is an example of layering.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Layering is like getting dressed for a cold day — you put on a shirt, then a sweater, then a jacket, and each layer adds something.
Ask your child: If you put a thin yellow layer of paint over a blue one, what might happen?
Common mix-up: Kids may think layering just hides what's underneath. The real magic is how the layers work together to create new colours, textures, or feelings.
Examples
- Painting a light blue wash of watercolour over a finished drawing to create a sky.
- Gluing different shades of cut paper on top of each other to make a mountain.
layering is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
