Complementary Colours

In our series of ongoing lessons on colour theory (primary, secondary, tertiary), yesterday we experimented with complementary colours.  Students learned that colours which are opposite each other on the colour wheel are called ‘complementary’.

We read the story, “Hello, Red Fox”, by Eric Carle.  In this story the animals are created with the complementary colour of how they are normally seen.  Students stared at the picture for ten to twelve seconds and then looked at the blank white page opposite.  After three or four seconds an image of the animal appeared in the opposite colour.

Students created a very simplistic picture on one half of a white piece of paper.  These were coloured in solidly with felt markers in the opposite colour that we normally think of them.  In essence, students created their own page of the story book.

These are on the small bulletin board by the Office.  Check them out if you are in the school.