"Color is a power which directly influences the soul." Wassily Kandinsky
This week's theme was 'True Colours'. Colour plays such a big part in our lives. It brightens our day to see a colourful bird or flower; it adds a certain something to our appearance to wear a vividly coloured item of clothing; colours can warn us of dangers in our immediate environment and food always tastes better when it is the colour we expect it to be.
Such is the power of colour in our lives, an 'International Day Of Colour And Light' has been assigned on 21st March each year. As the description of the meaning of the day says, "Colour is, thanks to visual perception, one of the most influential phenomena in people’s lives and also one of the channels that contributes most greatly to the perception of reality."
Then there was the 'Holi Festival' on 8th March. 'Holi' is a 24 hour Hindu festival based on the legend of Krishna, who was self-conscious about the blue colour of his face due to being poisoned by contaminated breast milk. Krishna was in despair because he believed Radha and other girls wouldn’t like him. He told his mother, who advised him to paint his face so that his colour wouldn't matter. 'Holi' is celebrated by thousands of people throwing paint around and getting covered in different colours. Colours are made with natural ingredients such as turmeric, beetroot, and berries. In 'Holi' the meanings of colours are as follows ... Red – the ultimate colour of love, passion, and fertility. Blue – the colour of Krishna’s face, and also the sky and oceans. Yellow – the colour of knowledge and learning, symbolising happiness, meditation, and peace. Green – the colour of nature, symbolising the start of Spring and new beginnings. Pink – the colour of caring and compassion. Purple – symbolises magic and mystery.
DISCUSSION
We asked members to come along to the group wearing something of their favourite colour.
We asked people why those colours were their favourite? Did they find that colour particularly calming or stimulating?
Was the colour choice based on a happy memory? Or was there something else?
We next discussed members hair and eye colour and observed the main colours within the group and room.
IDIOMS
Next we completed the following phrases, together by way of a shout out ...
Show your true COLOURS
Nail your colours to the MAST
In glorious TECHNICOLOUR
Out of the BLUE
All that glistens is not GOLD
Born with a silver spoon in your MOUTH
Green with ENVY
Caught RED handed
Roll out the red CARPET
Once in a BLUE moon
BLACK sheep of the family
Tickled PINK
White ELEPHANT or LIE
Red HERRING
Yellow BELLIED
Green around the GILLS
Between the devil and the deep blue SEA
Look through rose tinted SPECTACLES
Golden OPPORTUNITY
Paint the town RED
Little brown JUG
Pink makes the boys WINK
Men in grey SUITS
Feeling off COLOUR
Pass with flying COLOURS
To be kept in the DARK
Shadows and LIGHT
Night and DAY
Every cloud has a silver LINING
The grass is always greener on the other SIDE
Wave a white FLAG
FIRST SONG. 'Yellow Submarine', The Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2uTFF_3MaA
Name as many yellow things as you can?
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
ROUND 1. Nature
 | Excluding black and white, what are the three Primary Colours? (Colours that can be mixed to make other colours) How do you make orange, green and purple? |
 | What is the largest animal on the planet? (Size is up to 98ft / 180 tonnes)
What is the largest land animal? |
 | What substance, seen in nature, is green?
Why do deciduous trees turn red in the autumn? |
 | Which animals can change colour to camouflage themselves? Which pop group had an 80s hit single with the name of this creature in its title? |
 | What is the proper name for 'Mother Of Pearl'? Which mollusc grows pearls? |
 | What is the name of this fossilised tree sap, which often contains prehistoric insects? |
 | What is the 'Red Planet'? Can you name the others? What was the 'Mars Bar' slogan? |
 | Complete this phrase, "Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning..." Is there any truth in the saying? |
 | What percentage of people have blue eyes in the UK? a. 8% b. 28% c. 48% (Look around the room) |
 | What percentage of people in the UK have red hair? Who is pictured here? a. 1% b. 10% c. 50% |
SONG. ' I Can Sing A Rainbow', Cilla Black - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXds_mkyuXY
List the seven colours of the rainbow?
What might you find at the end of it?
ROUND 2. Colours In Everyday Life
 | What year was colour TV introduced in the UK?
What was the first TV programme (sports event) to be broadcast in colour? |
 | What colour describes old brown-and-white photographs?
Which scientist is pictured here? What was his theory? |
 | 'The Wizard Of Oz', 1939 was one of the first movies to be filmed in colour. T or F. When the movie changes from Kansas to Oz an extra was dressed and made up in brown tones before opening the door to glorious Technicolor? |
 | In what year was the 'Polaroid Instamatic' camera launched in the UK? Do people remember waiting for prints to be returned? |
 | What colour is the neutral wire on a modern British domestic plug? When is the last time you changed a plug?
|
 | What is the order of colours (sequence) in UK traffic lights?
|
 | What breed of dog is this? Which DIY product did it advertise in the UK?
|
Name some of the vegetables?
Name some of the fruits?
Name some of the flowers?
Name some of the insects?
SONG. 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', Elton John - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOL7iY8kfo
Where did 'The Yellow Brick Road' lead to?
What were the orange little people called?
ROUND 3. (Some Of) The Most Colourful Places In The World
 | Name the city? Name the cathedral? |
 | Name the city? Name the artist/architect? |
 | Name the flowers? Name the country? |
 | Name the coral reef? Where is it? |
 | Name the city? Name the prison? |
 | Name the city? Name the square? |
 | Name the festival? Name the palace? |
 | Name the girls? Name the country? |
 | Name the cathedral? Name the city? (Clue. You might find a Hunchback there!) |
 | Name the city? What tourist boats moor on the red pillars? |
 | Name the occasion? Name the landmark? |
SONG. 'Mr Blue Sky', Electric Light Orchestra - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswbT5zfmRE
What are the four main cloud groups?
ROUND 4. Games & Toys
 | What would a child be looking through to see this sort of pattern? |
 | Name this drawing toy? Were there any straight lines? |
 | Name this painting set? (If people have previously enjoyed this activity, I highly recommend the 'Color Planet Oil Painting' app.) |
 | Name this puzzle? |
 | Name the game? Name the characters? Name the murder weapons? |
 | Name the game? How many coloured streets are there? |
 | Name the game? What subject areas do the colours correspond with? |
 | Name the game? What is the quickest anyone completed it? |
 | Name the computer game? How did you play it? |
 | Name the game? How did you play it? |
SONG. 'True Colours' - Cyndi Lauper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ecaYj14z3M
What does 'Showing Your True Colours' mean?
ROUND 5. TV
 | Name the children's TV show? Name the monster? |
 | Name the comic strip? Name the characters? |
 | Name the character? Can you name any of the costumes? |
 | Name the children's TV show? Name the presenters? |
 | Name the TV show? Name the Doctor and arch enemy? |
 | Name the children's TV show? Name the detective? |
 | Name the TV show? Name the family members? |
 | Name the TV show? Name the dead parrot? |
 | Name the TV show? What car did they drive? |
 | Name the TV show? Name the characters? |
SONG. 'Lily The Pink', The Scaffold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7pHDoJrrzA
Name the pink water bird which stands on one leg?
What substance is used to flavour 'Pink Gin'?
ROUND 6. People
Name these people. Here are some clues ...
She danced with Fred Astaire?
She sang about the 'White Cliffs Of Dover'?
He starred in the 1971 movie 'A Clockwork Orange'?
He was lead singer of 'The Moody Blues'?
She starred in the 1985 movie 'The Color Purple'?
She had a hit single in 1976 with the song 'Evergreen'?
He had a hit single in 1984 with the song 'Purple Rain'?
He launched Radio 1 on30th September 1967?
She won her first 'Paralympics' gold medal in 1992?
ROUND 7. Colourful Songs
Who sang these songs ...
'Blue Suede Shoes'
'The Lady In Red'
'Song Sung Blue'
'Big Yellow Taxi'
'Night In White Satin'
'Mellow Yellow'
'Brown Girl In The Ring'
'Green Green Grass Of Home'
'On White Horses'
Name the band and their 1973 best selling album?
FINAL SONG. 'Gold', Spandau Ballet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjNXwSeLuTU
Who was the lead singer?
Ask members to point to any items of gold they are wearing...
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
If time allows, you could have a go at making 'Friendship Bracelets'. There are several kits available on Amazon.
If this is too complex or time consuming, you could do the same using coloured pasta circles.
Or you could just get the paints out and try some free painting. No rules, just cover the page with a unique design.
ANSWERS
ROUND 1
Excluding black and white, what are the three Primary Colours?
RED, YELLOW & BLUE (Colours that can be mixed to make other colours)
ORANGE - Red & Yellow
GREEN - Yellow & Blue
PURPLE - Red & Blue
What is the largest animal on the planet?
BLUE WHALE (98ft, 180 tonnes)
What is the largest land animal?
AFRICAN BUSH ELEPHANT
What substance, seen in nature, is green?
CHLOROPHYLL
Why do deciduous trees turn red in the autumn?
SUGARS IN LEAVES BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED = MORE ANTHOCYANIN IS PRODUCED
Which animals can change colour to camouflage themselves?
CHAMELEON
Which pop group had an 80s hit single with the name of this creature in its title?
'CULTURE CLUB'
What is the proper name for 'Mother Of Pearl'?
NACRE
Which mollusc grows pearls?
OYSTER
What is the name of this fossilised tree sap, which often contains prehistoric insects?
AMBER
What is the 'Red Planet'?
MARS ("A MARS A DAY HELPS YOU WORK, REST AND PLAY")
Can you name the others?
MERCURY, VENUS, EARTH, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS, AND NEPTUNE (PLUTO IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED A PLANET)
Complete this phrase, "Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning..."
RED SKY AT NIGHT, SHEPHERD'S DELIGHT."
What percentage of people have blue eyes in the UK?
48% BLUE, 30% GREEN, 22% BROWN
What percentage of people in the UK have red hair?
ABOUT 10%
ED SHEERAN
List the seven colours of the rainbow?
RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO AND VIOLET
What might you find at the end of it? A LEPRAUCHAUN & A POT OF GOLD
ROUND 2.
What year was colour TV introduced in the UK?
1967
What was the first TV programme (sports event) to be broadcast in colour?
BBC BROADCAST IN COLOUR FIRST FROM WIMBLEDON 1967
What colour describes old brown-and-white photographs?
SEPIA
Which scientist is pictured here?
ALBERT EINSTEIN / 'THEORY OF RELATIVITY' / E=MC SQUARED
'The Wizard Of Oz', 1939 was one of the first movies to be filmed in colour.
T or F. When the movie changes from Kansas to Oz an extra was dressed and made up in brown tones before opening the door to glorious Technicolor?
TRUE
In what year was the 'Polaroid Instamatic' camera launched in the UK?
KODAK INTRODUCED THE 'POLAROID INSTAMATIC CAMERA' IN 1963
Do people remember waiting for prints to be returned?
What colour is the neutral wire on a modern British domestic plug?
BLUE
What is the order of colours in UK traffic lights?
RED, RED AND AMBER, AMBER, GREEN, AMBER, RED
What breed of dog is this?
OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
Which DIY product did it advertise in the UK?
'DULUX' PAINT
Name some of the vegetables?
BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, CARROTS, COURGETTES, TOMATOES, ONIONS
Name some of the fruits?
BANANAS, GRAPES, PINEAPPLE, APPLE, KIWI, FIG, GUAVA
Name some of the flowers?
SUNFLOWERS, IRIS, CARNATIONS, CHRYSANTHEMUMS
Name some of the insects?
BUTTERFLIES, BEES, LADYBIRDS
Where did 'The Yellow Brick Road' lead to?
THE EMERALD CITY
What were the orange little people called?
MUNCHKINS
ROUND 3.
Name the city?
MOSCOW
Name the cathedral?
ST BASIL'S
Name the city?
BARCELONA
Name the artist/architect?
ANTONI GAUDI
Name the flowers?
TULIPS
Name the country?
NETHERLANDS (KEUKENHOF GARDENS)
Name the coral reef?
GREAT BARRIER REED
Where is it?
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Name the city?
SAN FRANCISCO
Name the prison?
ALCATRAZ
Name the city?
NEW YORK
Name the square?
TIMES SQUARE
Name the festival?
HOLI
Name the palace?
TAJ MAHAL
Name the girls?
GEISHA
Name the country?
JAPAN
Name the cathedral?
NOTRE DAME
Name the city?
PARIS
Name the city?
VENICE
Name the tourist boats?
GONDOLA
Name the occasion?
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Name the landmark?
'LONDON EYE'
What are the four main cloud groups?
CUMULUS, CIRRUS, STRATUS & NIMBUS
ROUND 4.
What would a child be looking through to see this sort of pattern?
KALEIDOSCOPE
Name this drawing toy?
'SPIROGRAPH'
Were there any straight lines?
YES. TWO RULERS WERE INCLUDED
Name this painting set?
'PAINTING BY NUMBERS'
Name this puzzle?
JIGSAW
Name the game?
'CLUEDO'
Name the characters?
MISS SCARLETT, COLONEL MUSTARD, MRS. WHITE, REVEREND GREEN, MRS. PEACOCK & PROFESSOR PLUM Name the murder weapons?
REVOLVER, DAGGER, LEAD PIPE, ROPE, CANDLESTICK & WRENCH
Name the game?
'MONOPOLY'
How many coloured streets are there?
8 - BROWN, LIGHT BLUE, PINK, ORANGE, RED, YELLOW, GREEN & NAVY BLUE
Name the game?
'TRIVIAL PURSUIT'
What subject areas do the colours correspond with?
PINK - ENTERTAINMENT, BLUE - GEOGRAPHY, YELLOW - HISTORY, BROWN - ART & LITERATURE, GREEN - SCIENCE & NATURE & ORANGE - SPORTS & LEISURE
Name the game?
'RUBIX CUBE'
Name the computer game?
'PAC MAN'
Name the game?
'TWISTER'
What does 'Showing Your True Colours' mean?
REVEAL ONE'S REAL CHARACTER OR NATURE
ROUND 5.
Name the children's TV show?
'THE CLANGERS'
Name the monster?
SOUP DRAGON
Name the comic strip?
'PEANUTS'
Name the characters?
CHARLIE BROWN & SNOOPY
Name the character?
'MR BENN'
Can you name any of the costumes?
RED KNIGHT, HUNTER, CLOWN, BALLOONIST, WIZARD, SPACEMAN, COOK, CAVEMAN, ZOO KEEPER, DIVER (FROGMAN), COWBOY, ALADDIN, PIRAT GLADIATOR .
Name the children's TV show?
'MULTI-COLOURED SWAP SHOP'
Name the presenters?
NOEL EDMONDS & KEITH CHEGWIN
Name the TV show?
'DOCTOR WHO' (TOM BAKER)
Name the Doctor and arch enemy?
DALEKS
Name the children's TV show?
'THE PINK PANTHER'
Name the detective?
INSPECTOR CLOUSSEAU
Name the TV show?
'THE SIMPSONS'
Name the family members?
HOMER, MARGE, MAGGIE, BART & MAGGIE (& GRAMPA & SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER)
Name the TV show?
'MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS' (JOHN CLEESE & MICHAEL PALIN)
Name the dead parrot?
NORWEGIAN BLUE
Name the TV show?
'ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES' (DEL BOY & RODNEY/ DAVID JASON & NICHOLAS LYNDHURST)
What car did they drive?
YELLOW 'RELIANT ROBIN'
Name the TV show?
'THE GOLDEN GIRLS'
Name the characters?
BLANCHE (RUE MCCLANAHAN), DOROTHY (BEA ARTHUR), ROSE (BETTY WHITE) & SOPHIA (ESTELLE GETTY)
Name the pink water bird which stands on one leg?
FLAMINGO
What substance is used to flavour 'Pink Gin'?
'ANGOSTURA BITTERS'
ROUND 6.
She danced with Fred Astaire?
GINGER ROGERS
She sang about the 'White Cliffs Of Dover'?
VERA LYNN
He starred in the 1971 movie 'A Clockwork Orange'?
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