Learning Across the ELC

Banksia Blue 

Inquiry: Language of Light & Colour

The Banksia Blue children have been deeply engaged in exploring the colourful blocks and transparent cylinders on the light table and the overhead projector. This experience has sparked a growing curiosity about how light behaves in our environment. Hence, our Term Three inquiry has focused on exploring the ‘Language of Light and Colour’.

This inquiry began as the children started to notice how the weather has changed the lighting inside the classroom. They discussed how the light was filtering through the windows into the classroom, although it was a little dark outside. It has been a joy to witness the children noticing the subtle shifts in light throughout the day - especially how natural light changes with the weather.

Benjamin: “Ms De Alwis, lucky we have some light from the window. It’s dark there.”

William P: “It’s dark cos it’s going to rain soon.”

Elle & James: “The sun is up there.”

Henry H: “It’s raining. It’s got dark like we are going on a bear hunt.”

The children were invited to research and investigate the complex concept of light and colour through a variety of experiences, including candles, the light table, an overhead projector (OHP), and several torches. The children also used CDs to create rainbows when the sun was shining during the winter mornings. As the children were becoming more interested to explore the concept of ‘Darkness’, they were invited to draw darkness by using black or white paper to express their ideas.

James: “Darkness is black.”

Jordan: “I can see rainbow colours.”

Charlotte: “I want to draw dark.”

Banksia Blue Team