Seeing in colour
I can state the primary colours of light, describe how they mix to produce other colours, and explain how the eye detects colour.
Seeing in colour
I can state the primary colours of light, describe how they mix to produce other colours, and explain how the eye detects colour.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- All colours of light can be created by mixing the primary colours of light; red, green and blue.
- Mixing equal amounts of two primary colours creates a secondary colour. All three mixed in equal amounts makes white.
- The retina, on the back of the eye, detects light. When there is no light, we see black.
- On the retina, three types of cone cell detect either red, green or blue light, and rod cells detect brightness.
- Display screens are made of tiny red, green and blue lights (pixels) which vary in brightness to make different colours.
Keywords
Primary colour - The colours of light from which all other colours of light can be made (red, green and blue).
Secondary colour - Colours of light that are made by mixing two primary colours in equal amounts.
Retina - The back surface of the eye that detects light.
Cone cell - The cells at the back of the eye that detect colour.
Rod cell - The cells at the back of the eye that detect brightness.
Common misconception
Colour is something different to light. The colours of light will mix in the same way that paints of different colours mix.
Show pupils how different colours of light can combine to produce different colours, including white light.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Seeing in colour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Seeing in colour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Making images unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Ray boxes and coloured filters (or red, green and blue LED light sources) for mixing colours of light.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the back surface of the eye that detects light
type of cell at the back of the eye that detects colour
type of cell at the back of the eye that detects brightness