Unit Introduction
In Unit 2, children investigate the world of color. Through free exploration and guided, hands-on activities, children gain an understanding of key science concepts about color, and develop an awareness of the shades of color around them. Listed below are the basic concepts that are covered in each week.
- Shades of Color (Week One) Children become aware of the many different colors that they see around them every day, indoors and outdoors. Children are encouraged to identify colors and shades of color. Children also learn that diluting colored water creates a lighter shade of the same color. This new awareness of different shades of color supports their learning through weeks one and two.
- More Shades of Color (Week Two) Children explore adding white or black paint to colored paint to produce different shades of that color. Children explore, observe, and discuss how shades and colors change when viewed through sunglasses. Children also learn to sort things by color.
- Mixing New Colors (Week Three) Children focus on mixing two or more colors to produce a third color. They also discover that looking through several layers of transparent, colored plastic can change the way things look. Children continue to categorize objects by color.
- Color and Light (Week Four) Children explore how light changes when seen through colored water and how light is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. They also explore mixing and comparing skin colors, and continue classifying objects by color.
Children’s learning is supported through daily hands-on exploration and by listening to read-aloud books and watching media throughout the unit. Children also begin to learn strategies they can use for communicating with others, making good choices, problem solving, cooperation and planning, and getting along with others.
Children continue to learn strategies for problem solving, getting along with others, making good choices, and sharing.