Mixing Colors With Light Beams

Angela President               Chicago Public School
6805 S. Calumet                1819 Pershing Road                           
Chicago  IL 60619              Chicago IL 60609
                               (773) 535-8000
               
Objectives: 

              The objective of this lesson is for pre-schoolers and primary 
graders to learn about mixing colors by light beams.  The enjoyment of seeing 
the colors change and learning the difference from mixing paints.         
 
Materials Needed:

          These materials are for the teacher to give the lesson.

                Three Projectors or some source of light to project the 
                   different colors of mylar paper 
                A color template 
                Three pieces of mylar paper, green, blue and red
                Three small or medium size mirrors
                An overhead projector 

Strategy:

                 To begin this lesson the teacher is to give a homework 
assignment the night before.  The homework assignment is for the children to go 
home and look at their color television screen.  While looking at the T.V. move 
very close to it and see what colors they see. 
                When they return the next morning, you ask who did their 
homework.  Those children are to tell you what colors they saw.  The teacher 
then explains that they are going to mix colors of light today. 
                You begin by placing your three color template on the overhead 
projector.  Turn the overhead projector on, then turn it around so the light 
beams are toward the back of the class.  Now you will ask three students to help 
find the light beams with the mirrors.  When they find them, ask that they put 
them on the front wall or screen if you have one.  Now you ask them "If you mix 
red and blue together what will you get?", they will say purple.  Then you ask 
the children who have red and blue to put their light beams together.  Then ask 
"What if green and red were mixed together, what color would you get?"  As you 
ask the questions you are mixing the lightbeams.  Give the children a chance to 
try to mix them on their own and take turns.  You are also to mix all colors 
together in different ways. 
                  RED and GREEN MAKE YELLOW
                  BLUE and RED MAKE PURPLE
                  BLUE and GREEN MAKE BLUE-GREEN OR AQUA
                  RED, BLUE and GREEN MAKE WHITE   YES WHITE
            
                Discuss colors, color mixing by addition is the mixing of light 
of different frequencies.


Performance Assessment:                   

                      I have made this simple for primary children.  They will 
enjoy seeing the lights and colors.  This lesson can be used for upper grades if 
you add a more difficult task.  You can also have the children work with paints 
and learn the difference by working with different colors. 


Conclusions:

 1.  The amazement of this lesson is due to the way the human eye works. 
 2.  Note, the primary colors of light are different than the primary colors of 
     paint. 

References:

                   Ms. Ann Brandon, my mentor in S.M.I.L.E. Physics