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Monday 25 August 2014

The Creative Bag of Tricks #1 - Colour Charts

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” 
- Albert Einstein

Encourage imagination and invention by asking learners to create their own specialist colour charts in the target language!



Before creating:
  • Provide examples of colour charts from specialist paint companies in the target language
  • Allow learners to read, understand and discuss each colour. Do they relate to particular environments, objects, tones or shades? Which is their favourite and why?
  • Encourage learners to take note of any new vocabulary

When creating colour charts in the target language:
  • Ask learners to consider shades, tones, subtle differences or associated objects, environments and places - e.g. "Cherry blossom pink", "brightest green"
  • Ask learners to consider any memories or feelings evoked by the colours - e.g. "Day at the beach", "calmness"
  • Encourage learners to seek inspiration in the ordinary – e.g. "burnt toast", "new page white" 
  • Encourage learners to use language they know and to manipulate language from the original colour charts
  • Support learners with word-banks, glossaries and dictionaries as appropriate

Further guidance
  • Imagination and invention is key - learners need not mention specific colours
  • Support could be given in the form of laminated building blocks that learners put together to create interesting combinations 
  • Search Google images, other search engines or ask companies directly for colour charts
  • See how this activity features in a lesson using a bi-lingual poem about colours (under primary Spanish tab).
  • Let us know how you got on making colour charts with your learners. Leave your comment below.
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    Friday 22 August 2014

    MTOT Registration Open!


    Registration has now opened for Glasgow schools to take part in Mother Tongue Other Tongue 2014! 

    The competition is free and open to all state and independent schools in Glasgow city council. Once registered you will receive a link to an MTOT teachers' pack giving you more detailed information about the competition. 

    For a competition overview, see the MTOT webpage on the SCILT website. 

    Follow this link to register your school now!