A COLOR OF HIS OWN(using A
Color of His Own by Leo Lionni)
INTRODUCTION This activity is appropriate for younger elementary
children in grades K-3. We use it with topics about
"Animals," "Camouflage,"
and "Color Changes." While the color changing paper is somewhat
expensive per sheet, we use only 1 sheet for every 6-8 children.
The story and paper provide an excellent "lead in" to a creative writing
extension in the classroom or at home.
PURPOSE The purpose of this activity is to introduce children
to the concept that colors can change naturally (like the chameleon), or
through special scientific processes such as the heat-sensitive paper.
Giving the children their own "color-changing lizard" provides an exciting
item for the children to take home for a "show and tell" time with their
families.
MATERIALS
PREPARATION FOR THE ACTIVITY Divide a sheet of white copy paper into 6 or 8
equal sections. Draw or copy an outline figure of a lizard in each section.
Using that sheet as your "original", make sufficient "Touch It Heat Sensitive
Paper" copies of the lizard for your class. Cut the paper into sections
with one lizard in each section. NOTE: Some of
the colors of the "Touch It Paper" turn white when exposed to heat.
Therefore, it is good to use a color such as purple, which changes to pink,
for your first copy in order to make sure you have the paper in the copier
paper tray the correct side up.
PROCEDURE Read the story and discuss some of the facts about
chameleons that Leo Lionni provides in the book. Show the children
one of the chameleons on the color-changing paper. We find that while
our adult hands are often too cold to change the colors, children's hands are much warmer, and so we ask one or two of the children to hold
the paper for a moment to effect the color change. Give each student
their own lizard, or, if the teacher prefers, give the teacher sufficient
papers for each student to use in class or to take home.
EXPLANATION The heat-sensitive paper changes colors in the
range of 75.2º F to 89.6º F 2,
so it readily changes color when held in a warm hand, and will return to
its original color as it cools.
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS This story and the papers can be used in a creative writing activity. For example, each child can write a story about when and where the chameleon makes the same color change as that individual child's paper (i.e., purple to pink, orange to yellow, etc.) For another activity showing the significance of camouflage, see Hiding in the Grass. Another book resource for using the "Touch-It
Paper" is The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle, Harper Trophy, 1984.
REFERENCES 1. Patricia B. McKean, Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Collection, 1995. Description of Touch-It ®Paper activity from Educational Innovations 326 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851. 2. "Educational Innovations", Volume 8.0, 1999, p.21. Education Innovations, Inc., 326 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 3. Leo Lionni, A Color of His Own, Dragonfly Books, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1975.
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