The Wonderful World of Colour
A workshop in thinking about, and naming colours, for Years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12).
This Workshop uses acetate books (acquired from Stage Electrics), as well as pens and paper.
The aim of the workshop is twofold. It will introduce participants to the very great range of different colours which the human eye can distinguish, and pose the problem about how one labels all these colours and how they can be told apart (Science Keystage 2 - materials and their properties 1: Grouping and classifying materials). Secondly it offers a chance to expand one’s vocabulary, and then actually use some of the new words one has learned in an exercise in creative writing, with the help of professional writers (English Keystage 2 - writing 1: composition).
The aim is therefore to show not only how clear and precise language can be, but also that it is vital to make distinctions between differences for the sake of communication both in the arts and sciences (Science Keystage 2 - scientific enquiry 2: planning), but also to show paradoxically, how the same words can be used in a highly playful manner, to evoke new meanings as well as to plan (English Keystage 2 - language 4: variation).
At the end of the session therefore the participants should not only have expanded their vocabularies but also should have learned how and when to use their new words. (Keystage 2 - writing 1: composition). Also, some at least will have had the chance to perform their new works (English Keystage 2 - speaking and listening 8: Speaking)
It is not envisaged that there will be any more health and safety requirements than will commonly be found in a standard classroom situation. The workshop will lasts 1 hour approximately, and be suitable for up to 60 participants
Word of Colour Lesson Plan.
Extract from the intro;
Take a look at this acetate sheet - on it you see a mosaic of different colours - lots of reds, greens, blues, pinks...but all in different shades and tones. Because they are all different, they all have or can have different names - different words for colour. In a real sense, they are different colours, and not just 'blue' or 'red'. To define more precisely what you mean is an invaluable tool of language, aiding you both in the sciences and all other areas of life and work - stopping you being misunderstood, helping you to make distinctions between things, and so on. We'll explore that aspect in more detail later.
For now, I want you to come up with names for all these wonderful colours. It doesn't matter that you may come up with radically different names - most likely you will - and that will tell you something about how we all see the same world differently!
So steer away from just 'light blue' or 'pale pink' - think more of words like olive, which is what we call a yellow based green. And if you can't think of words that actually mean the shade you want of red, like vermilion, or for blue, like azure, then think of something in the world that the colour reminds you of, and apply that as a colour - like otter brown, or pearl grey or concrete white. Ok, now go! What would you call this colour here?
Details for Workshop:
That's the introduction. Theatre gels of many colours are stuck onto acetate and participants name them. We make a list of the words students come up with.
Next up we list the letters of the alphabet, and then see how many we've covered. We then try and think of words for any missing letters.
Then we round up the words in the groups of main colour headings - red, blue, green, purple, pink, orange and yellow, etc.. We then see how many words we have for each colour heading.
We show with gels how yellow and blue make green, and hence why there are bluey greens like turquoises, etc, how purple is made from red and blue, and therefore how come you get indigo and mauve and violet – colours that don’t fall under the main colour headings.
We then all write a poem about something - anything the participants each want to, not more than 10 lines long, involving colour - just one major colour - only greens or whatever.
We then all write a poem - or short piece of prose - involving a number of different colours - either clashing or related. Like greys going with greens in a misty landscape. Or clashing colours like neon lights in a town against a blazing sunset.
We then try to write about something colourful - like a fairground or even a rainbow, not using any words for colour at all! We can use words for visual impact like faded, shadowy but not the colours themselves! Those who want to will share their favourite one out of the possible three pieces they’ve written.
If there are enough acetates, each participant will get to choose a piece with their favourite shade (these could potentially be used to be made into window decals or mobiles at home).