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We don't often do holiday-themed projects, but this color-mixing experience allowed students to add a festive twist if they wished! This lesson was inspired by one of my very favorite books, Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill. It's a book of poems inspired by colors! Here you can read a few examples or listen to a recording of the poems. My favorite is the one called What is White? Here's part of it: "White is marshmallow and vanilla ice cream and the part you can't remember in a dream. White is the sound of a light foot walking White is the beautiful broken lace of snowflakes falling on your face." The poems use beautiful figurative language to describe qualities of each color. The poems often describe the colors as having a taste or a smell, and we used this idea as the foundation of the poems students would write on their own. But first, students had to get inspired by mixing their perfect color! This was a good review of basic color theory concepts- or "color science" as we call it. Each student received a plate with the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) plus white and black. I reminded students that all other colors are made from combinations of these basic colors. Students were tasked with creating the most beautiful and interesting color they could imagine. We did the mixing and blending right on top of these index cards, and by the end of the day, students had an assortment of every color of the rainbow! It reminded me of visiting the paint-sample section of Lowe's or Home Depot! Next, students chose a color to describe in a poem. I gave them a template to help them get their ideas organized, and encouraged them to focus on describing each color using all five senses. This took some creative thinking, since colors don't literally have a taste or a smell- but it was fun to use our imaginations! Most students chose to use a holiday or winter theme when naming their colors and writing their poems, although that was not one of the requirements. Here are some of the most creative examples. Our students came up with some beautifully descriptive phrases! Christmas Tree Green Christmas Tree Green is the color of a beautiful tree. Christmas Tree Green sounds like the little bitty branches falling off the tree when my cat walks under it. Christmas Tree Green tastes like a mint sizzling in my mouth. Christmas Tree Green smells like a fresh cut pine in the forest. Christmas Tree Green feels like a lumpy bump on a piece of wood. Christmas Tree Green makes me not want to go to sleep on Christmas Eve because Santa will be here soon. -Ava Christmas Fire Orange Christmas Fire Orange is the color of little flames crackling in the fireplace. It looks like a sunset going down. It sounds like popcorn popping. It tastes like a cinnamon swirl. It feels like a bright star on top of the tree. -Selena Snowflake Snowflake is the color of sky in winter Snowflake looks like the frosting on a sugar cookie Snowflake sounds like rain falling from the sky. Snowflake tastes like a blueberry snowcone. Snowflake smells like a flower blooming in the garden. Snowflake feels like the clouds over our home. Snowflake makes me smile all the time. -Natali Firewood Firewood is the color of the twinkling fire sparking from the wood. Firewood looks like the morning sun rising into the night sky. Firewood sounds like the leaves flying through the breeze of wind. Firewood tastes like the cookies my mother bakes on Christmas Eve. Firewood smells like the smoke coming from a burning fire. -Abigail Frozen Mint Leaf Frozen Mint Leaf is the color of the frost on the mint leaves on a cold day in the garden. Frozen Mint Leaf looks like the deep minty blue ocean along the coast. Frozen Mint Leaf sounds like the joyful laughter of kids playing at the park. Frozen Mint Leaf tastes like the mint leaves with frost on them. Frozen Mint Leaf smells like peppermints on Christmas Eve. Frozen Mint Leaf feels like sheets of ice in your hands. Frozen Mint Leaf is to celebrate the most popular time of year, Christmas, as the snow falls like the feathers from doves flying around your house. -Caleb Frosted Cranberry Frosted Cranberry is the color of bright red covered over by white. Frosted Cranberry looks like a bright red-violet. Frosted Cranberry sounds like the glass ornaments on my tree. Frosted Cranberry tastes like the sweetness of a warm fire and the coldness of the snow outside. Frosted Cranberry smells like my teacher’s Scentsy in our room. Frosted Cranberry feels like a white Christmas. Frosted Cranberry makes me smile when I see it. Frosted Cranberry is so many things to me. -Addyson Winter Pine Bark Winter Pine Bark is the color of white Christmas cookies on a picnic plate. Winter Pine Bark looks like a tree’s bark with snow drizzled on it. Winter Pine Bark sounds like a white wolf howling in the snow. Winter Pine Bark tastes like gingerbread with sweet icing on it. Winter Pine Bark smells like sweet baked Christmas cake with red icing. Winte Pine Bark feels like a Christmas tree covered in ice. Winter Pine Bark makes me think about the presents that are coming. -Chloe Christmas Pine Christmas Pine Green is the color of a fresh pine tree ready to decorate. Christmas Pine looks like a velvety dress for a Christmas party. Christmas Pine sounds like a silent night. Christmas Pine tastes like a happy family dinner. Christmas Pine smells like waking up to see presents under the tree. -Echo Snow White Snow White is the color of the puffy white snow laying on the winter ground. Snow White looks like the snow I dream of in my sweet Christmas dreams. Snow White sounds like me remembering very sad days. Snow White tastes like sweet cotton candy. Snow White smells like mint candy canes and blue frosting. Snow White feels like cold sugar and winter snow. -Irina Everest Green Everest Green is the color of spring leaves falling. Everest Green looks like Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s green vegetable paintings. Everest Green sounds like flowers popping up in cartoons. Everest Green tastes like basil with a little hint of pepper. Everest Green smells like peppermint leaves dipped in watermelon juice. -Ardynn Golden Tree Golden Tree is the color of an empty tree in the snow with no leaves. Golden Tree looks like a gold medal. Golden Tree sounds like a cool breeze through the snowy trees. Golden Tree tastes like a perfect golden sugar cookie. Golden Tree tastes like a delicious cake baking. Golden Tree feels like a snowflake on your nose. Golden Tree makes me feel excited. -Maliyah Christmas Present Pink Chirstmas Present Pink is a color glowing with beauty. Christmas Present Pink looks like a bright pink box under the Christmas tree. Christmas Present Pink sounds like tearing paper as you rip it off the present on Christmas morning. Christmas Present Pink tastes like a fresh strawberry dipped in cream. Christmas Present Pink smells like a cotton candy scented candle. Christmas Present Pink feels like a box with a great big bow. Christmas Present Pink makes me as happy as when I see my present. -Ava Mint Joy Mint Joy is the color of fun. Mint Joy looks like candy. Mint Joy tastes like a mint melting slowly in my mouth. Mint Joy smells delicious. Mint Joy feels like a pillow made of snow. Mint Joy makes me happy. -Carlos Frozen Crystal Shard Frozen Crystal Shard is the color of blue and it looks like an icicle. Frozen Crystal Shard sounds like it’s going to fall and be really sharp. Frozen Crystal Shard smells like it’s been in a freezer for years. Frozen Crystal Shard feels very cold… Brrr! Frozen Crystal Shard is a very cold crystal and it makes me want to lick it. -Jadyn Reindeer Coat Reindeer Coat is the color of Rudolph’s soft fur. Reindeer Coat looks like a willow tree’s pale bark. Reindeer Coat sounds like the crackling and popping of a warm bright fire. Reindeer Coat tastes like a fresh baked sugar cookie. Reindeer Coat smells like sweet orange and cinnamon. Reindeer Coat feels like a cozy blanket. Reindeer Coat makes me happy. Reindeer Coat is Christmas morning. -Echo Sparkly Present Sparkly Present is the color of red Christmas sweaters. Sparkly Present looks like Santa Claus riding in his big red sleigh. Sparkly Present sounds like kids opening their presents from Santa. Sparkly Present tastes like red Christmas cookies with lots of sprinkles. Sparkly Present smells like yummy brownies with chocolate icing. Sparkly Present makes me excited for Christmas morning. Sparkly Present is shiny and sparkly and glittery. -Chloe Evening Snow Evening Snow is the color of slippery snow on your porch. It looks like clouds in your room. It sounds like the crackling of a fire. It tastes like the batch of brownies your mom just made. It smells like cinnamon. It makes me happy on a sad night. -Mya Peppermint Peppermint is the color of mint ice cream. It sounds like Christmas carols in my head. It tastes like candy canes in my cocoa before bed. It smells like the pumpkin spice candle my mom bought. It feels like being in bed on Christmas Eve. It makes me feel so happy in my dreams. -Mya Rudolph Red Rudolph Red looks like a hot fire on Christmas Day. Rudolph Red sounds like the beeps on my new phone. Rudolph Red tastes like coffee sitting on the table. Rudolph Red smells like the candy cane candle in the window. Rudolph Red feels like the teddy bear from your grandma. Rudolph Red makes me want to fly with Santa! -Lydia Christmas Tree Green Christmas Tree Green Is the color of the soft armchair I sit in by the fire. Christmas Tree Green looks like the needles that fell off the Christmas tree. Christmas Tree Green sounds like a soft breeze on Christmas Eve. Christmas Tree Green tastes like chocolate from my stocking. Christmas Tree Green smells like the cookies mom is baking for Santa. Christmas Tree Green feels like hot chocolate in my mouth. Christmas Tree Green makes me want to play in the snow. -Olga Cranberry Juice Pink Cranberry Juice Pink is the color of Christmas ornaments. Cranberry Juice Pink looks like wrapping paper on my presents. Cranberry Juice Pink sounds like snow falling on the ground. Cranberry Juice Pink tastes soft and velvety like the cake I’m eating right now. Cranberry Juice Pink smells like a pie fresh in the oven. Cranberry Juice Pink feels like a snowball in my hands. Cranberry Juice Pink makes me shout with happiness. -Olga Ice Queen Ice Queen is the color of ice that has melted into pieces. Ice Queen looks like snow, but blue. Ice Queen sounds like winter in my ears. Ice Queen tastes like ice cream melted in my mouth. Ice Queen smells like frozen berries. Ice Queen makes me think of the snow outside my house. Ice Queen is the music in my ears. -Sayla Silver Ornament
Silver Ornament is the color of Santa’s sleigh on a frozen winter night. Silver Ornament looks like fog in the night sky. Silver Ornament sounds like snow falling on a cloudy winter day. Silver Ornament smells like cookies fresh out of the oven. Silver Ornament tastes like mint candy on Christmas morning. Silver Ornament feels like the soft warm blanket on my bed. -Bethany
1 Comment
scott mercer
12/20/2017 11:16:50 am
Loved this! Thank you!
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