Beta-Testing 2026
The ABC’s of Colour
The 2026 beta-test curriculum consists of four scaffolded pathways based on the CLP Cornerstones. Each pathway includes three sets of lessons - the ABCs - that introduce the fundamental colour concepts related to each cornerstone.
Each lesson has one to three key hands-on exercises that we would like you to beta-test and provide feedback . The supplementary exercises and practice/projects can be done in class or at home to help reinforce the lessons.
Notes:
1. The exercises can be done back to back or mixed and matched depending on where colour fits into your curriculum planning. Each lesson is designed to be covered in a 40 minute class period. We appreciate your feedback on the exercises that worked best for your students.
2. All the exercises can be modified to make them age appropriate for your students. We welcome your suggestions for variations on the exercises depending on age and abilities.
See FAQ entry: Can the exercises be adapted for students with limited colour vision?
EXPERIENCING COLOURS PATHWAY
Colour is an essential part of our lives.
Our emotional responses to colours are complex.
Lesson C
Culture & Nature
Supplementary Exercise
Colour Codes Quiz
Supplementary Exercise
Changing colours of nature.
DESCRIBING COLOURS EXERCISES
We can describe colours by their hue family and character.
Colour organization is 3-dimensional.
Lesson A
Hue
Families
Supplementary Exercise
Free sort
Supplementary Exercise
Intro to hue families
Key Exercise
Arranging hue families
Supplementary Exercise
Flower Fan Deck
Supplementary Exercise
Colour Naming Game.
Lesson B
Hue
Characters
Key Exercise
Arranging characters
Key Exercise
Character associations
Supplementary Quiz
Odd one out
Key Exercise
Hue Families Model
Supplementary Exercise
Painting a Flower Fan
Lesson C
Lightness & Chroma
Supplementary Exercise
Chromatic vs. achromatic
Key Exercise
Lightness/value sort
Supplementary Exercise
Chroma/saturation sort
Key Exercise
Lightness/Chroma Models
Supplementary Exercise
Household sort
PERCEIVING COLOURS PATHWAY
Light is key for colour.
Colour is a perceptual experience.
Not everyone perceives colours the same way.
Colour is contextual.
Lesson A
Rainbows &
the Spectrum
Key Exercise
Expanding the spectrum
Supplementary Exercise
Examining the spectrum
Supplementary Exercise
Non-spectral colours
Discover non-spectral
Supplementary Exercise
Playing with Polarization.
Lesson B
Perception
Triangle
Supplementary Exercise
Lights on and off
Key Exercise
Orange cube
Supplementary Exercise
Filtered light sources
Supplementary Quiz
Flag game
Supplementary Exercise
Play with Coloured Shadows.
Lesson C
Colours in
Context
Key Exercise
Koffka ring
Key Exercise
Munker-White illusion
Supplementary Exercise
Simultaneous contrast
Key Exercise
Changing spatial contexts
WORKING with COLOURS PATHWAY
When we mix coloured media, the resulting mixture depends on the process.
Colours communicate.
Lesson A
Comparing
Mixing Processes
Key Exercise
Spinning disks
Key Exercise
Comparative mixing of red and blue
Supplementary Exercise
Mixing in transparent media
Supplementary Exercise
Subtractively mix hues in opaque media
Explore the subtractive mixing process using pastels, tempera, opaque watercolors, and acrylic paints.
Supplementary Exercise
Mixing CMY Hues in Liquid Watercolors
Have fun watching colours blend using coffee filters and liquid watercolors. Can you mix reds from magenta and yellow?
Lesson C
Device
Dependent Colour
Supplementary Exercise
CMYK Printing Processes
Supplementary Exercise
RGB Digital Processes
Supplementary Project
Painting papers in characters
Collaborate and use tempera paints to create a variety of painted papers in each hue family for use in the classroom.
Lesson 3: Device Dependent Mixing Processes
Fundamental concept: When we use coloured media, the complements depend on the process.
Purpose: Introduce variations of complementary colours and explore complementary mixing processes.
More Exercises
Supplementary Exercise
Sort art materials
Organize classroom art materials into the new nine hue families.
Supplementary Project
Paint swatches in hue variations
Collaborate to create a swatch library of the nine hue families.
Supplementary Project
Nebula
Will your favorite colors ‘work’ in a simple design?
Supplementary Exercise
Scavenger hunt
Find a range of colours in your environment.
Supplementary Project
Nine Hue Circle - Collage
Collaborate to find magazine clippings in the nine hue families. Make a big hue circle to hang in the classroom.
Supplemental Exercise
Gradient Hue Circle
Mix vivid hues in opaque media to make a nine hue circle.
Supplementary Exercise
Colour diary
Make a colour diary to record your colour explorations.
Supplementary Quiz
Living in colour
A mix and match quiz on the roles colour plays in our lives.
