Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Primary Colors

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to clearly establish the learning objectives, focusing on ensuring that students understand the fundamental concepts of primary colors and their application in the formation of visible colors. By detailing the objectives, students will have a clear vision of what is expected of them and can better direct their efforts and attention during practical activities in the classroom.

Main Objectives:

1. Verify that all light can be formed by combining 3 basic colors.

2. Understand that the light reflected and illuminating is the one that generates the color we see.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop observation and critical analysis skills through practical experiments.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and activate their prior knowledge of the topic. Presenting problem situations stimulates reflection and the application of the studied concepts in real contexts, preparing the ground for a deeper understanding. The contextualization seeks to show the relevance of studying primary colors, connecting content with everyday situations and curiosities, which can increase student interest and motivation.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are in a theater and the colored lights are mixing on stage, forming new colors. How is this possible? What are the most basic colors in this process?

2. Think of a common situation in your home, like sunlight coming through a window and being reflected off a mirror. Why do we see the light in the color we see? What processes are at play?

Contextualization

Primary colors are essential for many applications in our daily lives, from forming images on digital screens to mixing paints to create different shades. Interestingly, the theory of colors dates back centuries, but its practical application continues to evolve, influencing many modern technologies and even art. Understanding how primary colors work can help better comprehend these applications and deeply appreciate the world around us.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply and deepen their prior knowledge about primary colors in practical and playful contexts. By choosing one of the proposed activities, students will have the opportunity to experiment and directly observe the principles of primary colors and their mixtures, thus consolidating theoretical understanding through dynamic and interactive practices. This approach aims not only to reinforce the content learned at home but also to develop teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Color Mixers

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and demonstrate the formation of colors from mixing primary colors of light.

- Description: In this activity, students will explore how the primary colors of light (red, green, and blue) combine to form other colors, using colored LED flashlights and transparent filters.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute red, green, and blue LED flashlights, and transparent colored filters (yellow, magenta, and cyan).

• Ask students to explore color formation by placing colored filters in front of the flashlights.

• Instruct them to record which combinations produce different colors and theorize why this happens.

• Each group should present their findings to the class, explaining the combinations they created and what they learned about mixing light colors.

Activity 2 - Color Treasure Hunt

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Identify and explain the formation of primary and secondary colors in reflected light.

- Description: Students will participate in a treasure hunt around the school, where they will have to find objects of different primary and secondary colors and explain how each color was formed.

- Instructions:

• Previously, hide colored cards around the school, each with a primary or secondary color written on it.

• Divide the class into groups and provide each group with a list of colors they must find.

• Each group must search for the hidden objects, and upon finding them, use a camera app on their cell phones to analyze the reflected light and determine the present colors.

• Students should note in their notebooks the colors found and theorize which primary colors may have been mixed to form the secondaries.

• The activity ends with a group discussion about discoveries and conclusions.

Activity 3 - Primary Colors Cinema

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply knowledge about primary colors in creating a visual narrative and understand how colors influence emotions and comprehension of the story.

- Description: Students will create short films using editing applications that allow manipulation of light colors. They should tell a story where the color changes are essential to the plot.

- Instructions:

• Start with a brief introduction about the history of cinema and the importance of colors in films.

• Explain how to use the video editing app to change the colors of the scenes.

• Divide students into groups and provide them with cameras and/or cell phones, as well as access to editing software.

• Groups must come up with a story that allows for exploring the ability to change colors to convey emotions or meanings.

• Guide students in editing their scenes, making use of primary and secondary colors to create different tones and atmospheres.

• At the end, each group presents their film to the class, explaining their color choices and the impact on the narrative.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This feedback stage is essential to consolidate students' practical learning, allowing them to articulate and reflect on the knowledge acquired. The group discussion helps identify gaps in understanding and reinforce key concepts, in addition to promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences among students. This moment also serves for the teacher to assess the class's level of understanding and clarify any remaining doubts.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, organize a group discussion with all students to share their discoveries and experiences. Start the conversation with a brief introduction: 'Now that everyone has had the chance to explore primary colors practically, let's discuss what each group discovered. Who would like to start by sharing an interesting experience or new understanding about how colors combine?' Encourage students to use the technical terms learned and to justify their observations based on the theories discussed.

Key Questions

1. What were the color combinations that surprised you the most and why?

2. How can the understanding of primary colors be applied in everyday situations or in technology?

3. Was there any activity that changed your perception of how colors work?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage aims to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the key concepts addressed during the lesson. Recapping the content helps reinforce learning and ensures that students can apply the knowledge acquired in future situations. Additionally, highlighting the practical and theoretical importance of primary colors motivates students to value and explore the topic more deeply.

Summary

To conclude the lesson, the teacher should summarize the main points covered about primary colors, reaffirming that all visible colors can be formed from the combination of red, green, and blue, and explaining how this occurs in light and technology. It is important to recap the findings from the practical activities, such as the formation of colors through flashlights and filters, the color treasure hunt, and the creation of films with primary colors.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, the connection between theory and practice was established through activities that allowed students to directly apply the concepts studied at home. The practical activities demonstrated how primary colors combine and manifest in daily life, reinforcing theoretical understanding through visual and interactive experiments.

Closing

Understanding primary colors is essential, not only for studying sciences but also for various practical applications, such as design, technology, and even visual arts. This knowledge allows students to better understand the world around them and appreciate how colors influence our daily perceptions and interactions.