Colours in Nature

Unit: Earth and Sky Wonders

Lesson 2 of 6
Subject: Science
Level: Level 1 – New Zealand Curriculum
Year Group: Year 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 16 students

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🌈 Lesson Title: The Colours of Rainbows

📘 Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Science
Strand: Planet Earth and Beyond
Achievement Objective (Level 1):

Students will explore and describe natural features and resources.
They will observe and identify ways light interacts with objects and the environment.

Key Competencies:

• Thinking
• Using language, symbols, and texts
• Participating and contributing

Values Encouraged:

• Curiosity
• Innovation
• Respect for the natural world

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🎯 Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify that rainbows are formed by sunlight passing through water droplets.
• Recognise the seven colours of the rainbow in order.
• Create a visual representation of a rainbow using colour and water.

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🧠 Prior Knowledge

In Lesson 1, students discussed what the sky looks like during different times of day and how weather changes. They observed clouds and shared experiences of seeing rainbows in real life.

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🪜 Success Criteria

Students can:
✔ Say how a rainbow is formed (light + water).
✔ Name and identify the colours of the rainbow.
✔ Create a rainbow art project using coloured paper and water.
✔ Share one fun fact or observation about rainbows with the class.

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🪄 Materials Needed

For Each Student:

• Pre-cut strips of coloured paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
• White A4 paper
• Glue sticks
• Small spray bottles or damp sponges
• Crayons or markers
• Magnifying glasses (optional)

Classroom Materials:

• Prism or CD for light demonstration
• Torch (flashlight)
• Shallow tray of water
• A printout of the Māori whakataukī:
  “He iti te manu he nui te kōrero – A small bird has a lot to say”
  (To connect to Māori perspectives and the idea of observation)

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⏰ Lesson Breakdown (30 minutes total)

1. Exploration with Light and Water (7 minutes)

Type: Whole-class sensory demo

• Gather students on the mat.
• Teacher uses a prism or CD to demonstrate how light splits into colours.
• Shine a torch onto the CD near a dark corner or dim the lights slightly to show the spectrum.
• DEMO: Use a shallow tray of water, shine the torch at an angle and rotate. Ask:

  “What do you notice?”
  “Have you ever seen this kind of light before?”

Teacher Talk Tip: Use rich language – light bounces, reflects, bends, splits.

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2. Discussion & Māori Connection (5 minutes)

Type: Guided question and group kōrero

• Introduce the kupu (word) āniwaniwa – rainbow in te reo Māori.

• Display the whakataukī and discuss its meaning:
  “He iti te manu he nui te kōrero”
  Relate the whakataukī to students' observations – even small things like raindrops help create big, beautiful things like rainbows.

• Ask students:

  “What might be needed to make a rainbow?”
  “Have you seen one after rain?”
  “What colours did you see?”

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3. Art and Creation Time (12 minutes)

Type: Individual hands-on activity

• Students receive a white sheet and 7 coloured paper strips.
• In order (ROYGBIV), they glue each strip onto the paper in a curved rainbow shape.
• Students use spray bottles or damp sponges to lightly moisten the coloured paper. Encourage gentle spraying and observe how colours may slightly blend or darken.

Extension (if needed): Encourage students to draw themselves under the rainbow.

Teacher Tip: This is a sensory experience – talk about the smell of damp paper, colours changing, the cool touch of water. Use all five senses.

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4. Sharing and Scientific Talk (4 minutes)

Type: Student-led discussion

In a circle, students hold their rainbow art and share one thing they learned or liked:

“My favourite colour was…”
“Rainbows need…”
“I saw the colour… when the light hit the CD.”

Celebrate student answers, link back to science terms explored, and use affirming language like:

“That’s a great observation!”
“You noticed something scientists do!”

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5. Wrap Up & Reflect (2 minutes)

Type: Whole-class reflection

• Gather back on the mat. Sing a quick Rainbow Song (e.g., to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle”):

  “Red and orange, yellow too,
  Green and blue and purple hue.
  Rain and sunshine make this show,
  Look up high—rainbow glow!”

• Review:

  “What’s one thing we need for a rainbow?”
  “Can we make a rainbow appear anytime we want?”

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🌀 Differentiation & Support

• For ELL learners: Use colour cards with te reo Māori and English labels.
• For sensory needs: Provide dry art alternative using markers.
• For advanced students: Offer magnifying glasses to explore how water droplets bend light.

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🌱 Culturally Responsive Practice

• Integrate Māori language and perspectives (e.g., āniwaniwa, whakataukī, observing and honouring nature).
• Emphasise observation, wonder, and seasonal changes, aligning with mātauranga Māori about environmental awareness.

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📌 Assessment Opportunities

• Formative: Anecdotal notes during discussion and sharing
• Observational: Use of scientific language and colour naming
• Product-based: Completion and sequencing of rainbow craft

Look for students' understanding in their verbal and creative responses.

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🧭 Looking Ahead

🔜 Next Lesson (Lesson 3):
“Night Sky Watchers” — Introduction to stars and constellations. Students will create simple star viewers and learn about Matariki.

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🌟 Teacher Reflection (Post-Lesson Prompt)

• Were students engaged during the demonstration of rainbow light?
• Did students successfully connect the science concepts to their artwork?
• How well did the inclusion of te ao Māori resonate with the class dynamic?

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Every ray of learning begins with children’s eyes full of wonder — let the skies be their first canvas.