The Science of Colour
The “Creating a Colourful Life” resources were developed for use in both Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. Using the topics of Light and Colour their cross-curricular nature provides the opportunity for teachers to include key concepts such as scientific thinking, the applications and implications of science, cultural understanding of science, and science in real-world situations in their lessons.
There are 2 sets of 5 activities, including CPD Units for teachers and background information, as well as suggested lesson plans and adaptable classroom resources for each activity. The first set is aimed at KS2 and was created to be built on and extended in KS3. The KS3 activity set is designed to follow on from the KS2 activities, but can also be used as a stand-alone module.
OVERVIEW
Why use this approach?
Colour research and development has links to both history and art, but is ultimately underpinned by scientific principles. Colour is a powerful context within which scientific enquiry can be taught, thus fulfilling the National Curriculum (NC) requirement of teaching by linking scientific enquiry to context. It can be used as a context for teaching scientific enquiry within both the ‘Materials and their Properties’ and ‘Physical Processes’ sections of the science curriculum.
What is the science of colour?
Colour is embedded in the National Curriculum, with units bridging the transition between Key Stage 2 and 3. Topics include dealing with light e.g. how light can be reflected from surfaces (KS2) and how white light can be split into colours and how colours are affected by filters (KS3) as well as units on acids and bases linking to colour changes and pH and how such solutions affect different materials.
The "Creating a Colourful Life" materials
There are five different activities for Key Stage 2 and six follow on (or standalone) activities for Key Stage 3.
For each activity there is:
1. a lesson planning sheet: this outlines the links to the National Curriculum with clear Learning Outcomes and provides some background information along with a lesson plan, a list of the resources required and the answers to the questions for the student worksheet.
2. a “handout” worksheet. This contains the instructions for the pupils to follow and questions related to the subject.
KEY STAGE 2 MATERIALS
These activities have been designed to provide KS2 teachers with ideas and resources to teach some parts of the Science National Curriculum.
There are five different activities and each one consists of a lesson planning sheet and teacher information as well as classroom resources and “handout” sheets.
They are designed to be easy to fit into existing schemes of work or included as part of a project. The intention was that the activities could be easily modified and it is hoped that you adapt them to suit your own needs.
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “KEY STAGE 2 MATERIALS” FILES [3.35MB]
ACTIVITY 1: SMART PIGMENTS
Scheme of work unit: Light
Lesson Plan [97.85kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [26.46kB]
Activity Sheets [81.65kB]
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Activity Sheets [18.69kB]
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DOWNLOAD ALL "ACTIVITY 1: SMART PIGMENTS" FILES [209.82kB]
ACTIVITY 2: CSI COLOURS IN INKS
Scheme of work unit: Solids, liquids and how they can be separated
Lesson Plan [109.35kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [36.06kB]
Activity Sheets [80.42kB]
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Activity Sheets [24.67kB]
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DOWNLOAD ALL "ACTIVITY 2: CSI COLOURS IN INKS" FILES [230.55kB]
ACTIVITY 3: FOOD DYE EXPERIMENT
Scheme of work unit: Solids, liquids and gas and how they can be separated
Lesson Plan [99.64kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [26.71kB]
Activity Sheets [77.55kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [25.83kB]
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DOWNLOAD ALL “ACTIVITY 3: FOOD DYE EXPERIMENT” FILES [213.09kB]
ACTIVITY 4: INVISIBLE INKS
Scheme of work unit: Solids,liquids, gases/Solubility
Lesson Plan [106.32kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [27.14kB]
Activity Sheets [83.89kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [36.53kB]
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DOWNLOAD ALL “ACTIVITY 4: INVISIBLE INKS” FILES [236.58kB]
ACTIVITY 5: ANCIENT ART PRACTICAL
Scheme of work unit: Characteristics of materials/Rocks and soils
Lesson Plan [223.34kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [27.68kB]
Activity Sheets [243.19kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [355.71kB]
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DOWNLOAD ALL “ACTIVITY 5: ANCIENT ART PRACTICAL” FILES [825.67kB]
KEY STAGE 3 MATERIALS
These activities have been designed to provide KS3 teachers with ideas and resources to teach some parts of the Science National Curriculum.
There are six different activities and each one consists of a lesson planning sheet and teacher information as well as classroom resources and “handout” sheets.
They are designed to be easy to fit into existing schemes of work or included as part of a project. The intention was that the activities could be easily modified and it is hoped that you adapt them to suit your own needs.
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “KEY STAGE 3 MATERIALS” FILES [3.80MB]
ACTIVITY 1: SMART PIGMENTS
Scheme of work unit: Light (visible spectrum)
Lesson Plan [29.90kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [24.97kB]
Activity Sheets [23.05kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [18.62kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 1: Smart Pigments” FILES [209.82kB]
Activity 2: CSI Colours in Inks
Scheme of work unit: Particle theory and separation techniques
Lesson Plan [107.50kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [35.14kB]
Activity Sheets [80.45kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [24.70kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 2: CSI Colours in Inks” FILES [230.55kB]
Activity 3: Food Dye Experiment
Scheme of work unit: Particle theory and separation techniques
Lesson Plan [97.78kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [26.06kB]
Activity Sheets [77.00kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [25.81kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 3: Food Dye Experiment” FILES [213.09kB]
Activity 4: Invisible Inks
Scheme of work unit: Acids and Alkalis/pH Scale/Indicators
Lesson Plan [120.11kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [27.19kB]
Activity Sheets [101.28kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [36.85kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 4: Invisible Inks” FILES [236.58kB]
Activity 5: Ancient Art Practical
Scheme of work unit: Introduction to the rock cycle, Particle model/Solutions/Change of state
Lesson Plan [107.53kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [28.40kB]
Activity Sheets [243.21kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [355.92kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 5: Ancient Art Practical” FILES [825.67kB]
Activity 6: Chemical Pigments
Scheme of work unit: Chemical Change; Separation techniques (filtering); Elements, compounds and mixtures
Lesson Plan [112.60kB]
docx
Lesson Plan [30.09kB]
Activity Sheets [130.35kB]
docx
Activity Sheets [188.14kB]
zip
DOWNLOAD ALL “Activity 6: Chemical Pigments” FILES [441.50kB]
REVIEWS
Safety Notice and Disclaimer
PSTT advises teachers to refer to either the CLEAPSS website or SSERC website for up to date health and safety information when planning practical activities for children.
PSTT is not liable for the actions or activities of any reader or anyone else who uses the information in these resource pages or the associated classroom materials. PSTT assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information contained in these resources. PSTT recommends that a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking in the classroom any of the practical investigations contained in the resources.
All materials are ©Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and are freely available to download and share for educational purposes. Whilst educators are free to adapt the resources to suit their own needs, acknowledgement of copyright on all original materials must be included. Rights to images included in the resource have been purchased for PSTT use only – as such, these images may only be used as part of this resource and may not copied into or used in other materials.