Sandra E. Broomes Sherman
1000 W. 52nd Street
Chicago IL 60609
(312) 535-1757


Designed for Grades 2 & 3. To develop a relationship between colors in paint &
colors in light. What colors make white light. What is Roy G. Biv..

Materials Needed:

Materials listed are for groups of four.
tempera paints - cyan, yellow and magenta
paint brushs - various sizes
color filters - red, green, and blue
colored marking pens
white paper
pencil or pen
a prism
overhead projector - transparency
rainbow viewer
color wheel
flashlights - 3


The lesson would start with a discussion of color in the world around us.
Scientists have learned that white light, such as sunlight can be broken
up into colors of the rainbow. The students will mix the colors of paint,
in paint the artist can make any color by mixing the three primary colors
of paint - magenta, yellow and cyan. They will use the color wheel to create
secondary colors and see how colors in paint mix.

The prism will be used with an overhead projector to create a spectrum on
the screen. The lights are turned off, two sheets of paper are placed on the
overhead with a vertical opening, the prism is placed at the top of the
overhead. A band of color called a spectrum is formed when white light
passes through the prism. The prism "bends" each color as it goes through.
Each students also looks through the prism directed toward sunlight or
lights and should be able to see the spectrum. They write down the colors seen.

Students will blend the colors of light by using color filters and flashlights.
A wide range of colors can be produced by blending the three primary colors
of light - red, green and blue. The three most important complementary colors in
light can be created by combining two primary colors. Red light and blue light
create bluish red called magenta. Blue and Green Light form Cyan. With green
light and red light we create yellow.

When we look through filters, the world takes on a very different look. Filters
only let certain colors thought to your eyes. Colored glass, cellophane and
plastic are examples of filters. Use a red marking pen to draw an apple, then
draw a blue bird, a green tree, an orange flower, purple grapes and a yellow
sun. Look at each drawing through the red filter. Does the apple disappear or
seem to turn color? What color does the apple appear to be? How about the blue
bird? Look at each drawing through the green filter and then the blue filter.
Graph out the results.

Performance Assessment:

The students will write down the colors of Roy G. Biv - which are the colors of

Graph out the results from each group.
Drawings | Red | Blue | Green | | | Red Apple | | | Blue Bird | | | Green Tree | | | Orange Flower | | | Purple Grapes | | | Yellow Sun | | |
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