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recorded reading
“Colour me red”, said the sweet perfumed rose.
Make my fragrance appealing to everyone’s nose.
To my gorgeous green leaves, just add a sheen,
For I am the loveliest flower that ever was seen.”
Said the sweet tasting strawberry “Colour me red”.
“Let the sun ripen me well in my cosy straw bed
Compared to some other fruits I may be quite small,
But my sweet tasting juices bring delight to them all.”
“Yes, colour me red” then the fire engine exclaimed;
“Just like the colour of the fire and the flames.
As I roar down the street with my firemen inside
My alarm bell will ring as I hurry in pride.”
Copyright 2007
NOTES FOR TEACHERS
This poem can be used as a centrepiece, or talking point in a lesson, and children can be asked to think of red things. For example, when you think of a red strawberry, do you also think of the taste? What red tastes do you like or dislike? (Cherries or hot red peppers?) Write down a list of red likes and red dislikes. What red things do you associate with smell? What red thing feels hard to the touch and what feels soft? (eg, red brick; red rose petal). When you think of red, do you think of red for danger or lovely red balloons?
You can lead on to how red can stimulate other senses and can be used in language to denote good and bad. Teach them the following “red phrases”. This could be in the form of a handout. Write some sentences using these phrases. Talk about their own “red letter day”. What important occasion has happened to them or someone else during the year? When do we get “red carpet treatment?” (e.g., birthdays or other special events). Explain how “rolling out the red carpet” actually happens. Observe the sky. Does the red sky in the morning actually precede bad weather and red at night predict a good sunny day? There is a lot of material which can be linked to colour.
THE LANGUAGE OF RED
Language of Red: The use of red in familiar phrases can help a designer see how their colour of choice might be perceived by others — both the positive and negative aspects.
Good red
Red letter day - important or significant occasion
Red carpet treatment - make someone feel special, treat them as if they are a celebrity
Roll out the red carpet - same as above
Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning; red sky at night, sailor's delight - pay attention to good and bad warning signs
Paint the town red - celebrate, go out partying
Red eye - an overnight flight
Bad red
Seeing red - to be angry
Red herring - something that deceives or distracts attention from the truth
In the red - being overdrawn at the bank or losing money
Red flag - denotes danger, warning, or an impending battle
In China they have what are know as hong bao's (literally 'red envelopes/letters'). These contain money and are used for any celebratory occasion such as weddings and birthdays etc. They are a custom from more than a thousand years ago.
Red Words: These words are synonymous with red or represent various shades of the colour red.
Scarlet, crimson, vermillion, carmine, maroon, burgundy, ruby, rose, madder, rouge, brick, blood red, blush, fire engine red, cinnabar, russet, rust, Venetian red, flame, Indian red, tomato.
A R T P R O J E C T
Print the above poem as an insert for a card. (See print friendly version). Either use the attached drawing for the front of the card, or let children design their own card. They could also learn how to copy and past one of my pictures for the front of their card. Let them choose an appropriate colour of card that will go well to highlight “red”. Black, red and white is dramatic; A red rose against a yellow background reminds you of the summer sun shining on the rose. A blue background reminds you of the sky, etc.
Cool blues provide contrast and tone down the heat of red. Light pinks and yellows are harmonising colours that can work well with red if not too close in value such as dark red with a pale or golden yellow. Be careful using purple. It can be an elegant combination but too much could be overpowering.
Add a dash of red to a soft but sophisticated pink and grey combo. For some countries, including the US, red, white, and blue is a very patriotic trio even if the shades of red and blue differ from those used in the flag.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Red is often the colour worn by brides in the East while it is the colour of mourning in South Africa. In Russia the Bolsheviks used a red flag when they overthrew the Tsar, thus red became associated with communism. Many national flags use red. The red Ruby is the traditional present for the 40th wedding anniversary.
Using Red: Use the colour red to grab attention and to get people to take action. Use red when you don't want to sink into the background. Use red to suggest speed combined with confidence and perhaps even a dash of danger. A little bit of red goes a long way. Small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this strong colour. Multiple shades of red and even pink or orange can combine for a cheerful palette.
Using Red with Other Colours: Red combines with green naturally, and is used for Christmas decoration: Holly with red berries; the Christmas tree; red candles etc.
Question: What things are either red or green as Christmas decorations in your home.
SUGGESTIONS FOR HOMEWORK PROJECTS
What is the “red army” or “red guard”?
What is the “red cross”?
What is the “red crescent”?
You might be able to explain to the class briefly what Chairman’s Mao’s “Little Red Book”. It links well with the “red army”/”red guard”.
POETRY PROJECT
Check that pupils know the following words:
FRAGRANCE
The state or quality of having a pleasant odour.
A sweet or pleasant odour; a scent.
A substance, such as a perfume or cologne, designed to emit a pleasant odour
Ask the pupils to give some good examples of “fragrance” that they like.
SYNONYMS fragrance, aroma, bouquet, perfume, scent. These nouns denote a pleasant or sweet odour: the fragrance of lilacs; the aroma of sizzling bacon; the bouquet of a fine wine; the perfume of roses; the redolence of fresh coffee; the scent of newly mown hay.
SHEEN
A radiant brightness or glow, usually due to light reflected from a smooth surface:
Can you think of other words that relate to “sheen”.
burnish, glaze, gloss, lustre, polish, shine.
Where can you find “sheens”?
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“Colour me red” said ------------------------------
Complete the second rhyming line with words of your own. You may use “rhymezone.com” to help you.
Write down three words connected with “smell”.
(perfume, scent, fragrance, aroma, odour; smell).
Write down as many words as you can that rhyme with “red” and perhaps relate to red:
Red/bled; Red/head; Red/thread; Red/bed;
Just rhyming with red: shred, thread; bed; bread; said; ahead; dread; fed; wed.
Choosing two of the rhyming words in the above poem, write two lines of your own which end in the same way.
Links:
Just for Kids: - If colours could speak. http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/52_folder/52_articles/52_red.html