Nairobits E-learning > Course 'Web Stars' > Design > lesson 1
  So, what are colors?
Introduction

Today we will learn the essence of colors, philosophical theories that have been proposed through the years by physicalists, neuroscientists and others. What they thought about colors and how they tried to define them. We are also going to be looking at technical theories of colors along with some practical exercises.

 

  
Activities
    Opening (30 mins)
  • Introduction to the Course :
    General Manager’s speech,
    Trainers’ welcoming students
    Training Coordinator - brief on the course.

    Introduction (60 mins)
  • Warm-up: Back writing
  • Philosophical theories
  • Technical theories

    Work (120 mins)
  • Student exercise (3)
  • Presentation and discussion

    Closing (40 mins)
  • Closing talk and Homework
  
Warming up
15 mins 		Back scribbling:
This fun game is about our hearing sense and colors.		  

Back Scribbling Game
It is done in pairs. One student uses their finger to write the name of a color on the back of the other. He then takes a white board marker and writes what he thinks/felt the partner writing on their back. Then the partner says if they got it right. It is basically for concentration and 'bringing their heads to class'.		  
Phyilosophical theories
30 mins		 The trainer will now explain some of the theories on colors that have been proposed over the years; Visual states of color, mental colors, subjectism, physicalism, dispositionalism. Try to find some of their inconsistencies and finally together with the students think of which they think is closest to the truth according to them or what makes sense.
Please see theories of color.doc for all details. 		 
Exercise:
60 mins		 Additive and subtractive color synthesis. The trainer guides the students by mixing various proportions of two or three distinct stimulus colors of paint.
see additive subtractive colors.doc 		 
The color wheel
30 mins		 This part will be an introduction to the color wheel: How do you understand colors, Primary and secondary colors, tertiary colors, analog colors, complimentary colors, split complimentary colors and triad colors.
see color wheel.doc 		 
Exercise:
60 mins

In this part of the lesson we are going to make a complete color wheel which is something of this sort:


The color wheel is the fundament for much of color theory, and you are well of remembering what it looks like, and where the colors are in relation to each other.

  
  colours with light  
Closing Talk
10 mins		 The trainer asks some questions based on the day's lesson e.g What did you learn today?What would you say is the difference between RGB and RYB?  
Hand-out There are three handouts in this lesson:
1. the theories of color
2. the color wheel
3. details about additive and subtractive colors		  
Homework Find out a brief history your culture in your culture (origin) what colors were used as symbols for; Harvesting, mourning, weddings, hunting.They go ask elders for this info  
Learning goals

Knowledge* students know
- Know the philosophies around colors
- Understand the different between screen & real life colors
- Understand the color wheel
- Understand color terms
Skills* students can
- Mix colors to make new colors
Attitudes* students feel
- Confidence in their knowledge of colors
- Have their opinion about colors
- That color is a powerful tool and its use should be careful.

  
Materials Watercolors + Paint brushes