ColourColourColourColourIn the Elementary In the Elementary

ClassroomClassroomBy: Susan, Lisa, Karrie, Nadine, By: Susan, Lisa, Karrie, Nadine,

Sarah, Catherine, and MarciSarah, Catherine, and Marci

What is Colour?Produced when light strikes an object, and reflects back

intoyour eyes. There are three properties:1. Hue – The name of a colour.2. Intensity – The brightness or dullness of a colour.3. Value – The lightness or darkness of a colour.

Primary & Secondary Colours

Primary colours are Secondary colours are red, blue and yellow. orange, green, and violet. They can not be created They are produced by mixing by mixing other colours. Two primary colours in equal

portions.

Greg Percy’s Greg Percy’s Colour Colour SongsSongs

Tertiary Colours

• Combinations of primary and secondary colours• Six tertiary colours:

red-orangeyellow-orange yellow-green blue-green blue violet red-violet

Cool & Warm ColoursCool Colours – (Ex: Green, Blue, & Violet) Called “cool”

due to their resemblance of cool objects such as a damp forest or a lake. These colours are said to calm and relax the viewer.

Warm Colours – (Ex: Red, Orange, & Yellow) Called “warm” due to their resemblance of warm objects such as the sun, or fire. These colours are said to arouse or stimulate the viewer.

Note: Neutral Colors or earth tones are not seen on most color wheels. Black, grey, and whites are neutral. Browns, beige, taupes, and tans are neutral too.

Claude Monet’s use Claude Monet’s use of cool coloursof cool colours

Vincent Van Gogh’s Vincent Van Gogh’s

use of warm coloursuse of warm colours

How do these pictures make

you feel?

How can colour

influence a viewer?

Tints and ShadesTint: The mixture of a colour with white (Also

called a pastel color)

Shade: The mixture of a colour with black.

Mixing with white increases lightness, while mixing

with black reduces it.

Mixing with any neutral colour,including black and white, reduces chrome or colourfulness, leaving hue unchanged.

Complimentary Colours

Colours that are opposite one another on the colour wheel.

Tricks of CCoolloouurr to try with your Students

Exercise #1:Exercise #1:Each band of colour seems to shift from light todark. But each band is actually a solid colour!

Why? Colours seem to change when placed next to lighter or

darker colors because of the contrast. See for yourself,Try this yourself!

Exercise #2:Exercise #2: Stare at the black dot, for 15 seconds. Once the yellow circles disappear you should see yellow where the white spaces used to be. You may even see a faint violet

image.

This is an after image of the yellow circles. Try it yourself!

Let’s Be Creative!

Resources

Greg Percy’s Songs:Greg Percy’s Songs:http://cdbaby.com/cd/gregpercy

Crayola Website:Crayola Website:Lots of Lesson Plans, ideas, and resources for Elementary Teachers!http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/