Bright and Beautiful Colors

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Explain that color is a way that we describe things, color is created through the reflection of light.
• Demonstrate reflection by bouncing a small rubber ball against a wall or hard surface. Explain that just like the wall bounces back, sunlight bounces back against objects and reflects different colors that we can see. Reflection means that the light bounces back in one color that we can see.
• Explain that while there are lots of different colors, there are only three primary colors, or colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors together. These colors are red, blue, and yellow. We use the primary colors to make other colors.
• Use visuals of the three primary colors to demonstrate your talking points.

Guided Practice

• Read aloud the book Let’s Paint by Gabriel Alborozo
• When you finish reading, ask the students follow up questions about the story, such as "Where do ideas come from? What happens when you want to create something and it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped?"

Independent working time

• Explain that students will get to create their very own primary color masterpiece. Tell students that just like in the story, they should think of an idea and use the paint to explore the idea on their paper.
• Pass out paper, paintbrushes, and water to each student.
• Provide pairs or small groups of students with each of the three primary paint colors to share.