Teaching Colors

I am a big fan for teaching with songs. I feel it makes it easier for the students to remember the information presented and it helps all different styles of learning. This simple song seen in the video not only introduces the basic colors like red, yellow, orange, green, and blue, but it also gives examples like red is the color of an apple. You as the teacher will sing the song one time all the way through and then the students will repeat it with you the second time. The song also introduce an important part of colors....they make a rainbow. The video gives students the chance to see examples of the color that are common in their everyday life. After watching this, a great follow up activity would be to ask the children what other green objects can they think of, or what color is this flower. They then will have to apply the knowledge they just learned and it will help them remember it even more.

Another follow up activity that would be good for reinforcement would be to read a story all about color. Click here to go to a page with a nice list of stories that relate to colors.

After introducing the basic colors, a great idea would be to explain how you make colors. You would need to reemphasize that red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors. From those colors, we can make all other colors. While explaining how to make different colors, holding up a color wheel might help some students see how colors are created. The best way to show how colors can be mixed is through light. Get three flashlights. Cover each lighted end of the flashlight with a stretched out balloon-one red, one yellow, and one blue. Then turn off the lights. Shine the flashlights on the board so the students see the colors. Then focus two of the flashlights on the same spots so the colors seem to "mix". The students will then be able to see how blue and yellow make green and so on. You can also explain how to mix colors by using the wheel. Start with the color red. If you add a little yellow to it, what color is it. It will be red orange. If you add a little more yellow you will get the color orange. And if you add more yellow to the mix, you will get a yellow orange color. Help them see how colors are created in multiple ways and then let them try it on their own. A hands on way to create color is to use shaving cream and paint. Put some shaving cream on each students desk. Add two or three drops of paint of two different colors and let them explore and see what colors they can make!!