Te Kete Ipurangi Navigation:

Te Kete Ipurangi
Communities
Schools

Te Kete Ipurangi user options:

English Online. Every child literate - a shared responsibility.

Learning task 4: The language of colour

In many static images, the colours used to communicate ideas are important. Colours tend to have their own symbolic or emotive or connotative or associative values.

Do colours have "universal" symbolic value, or is the symbolic value dependent on the interpretation of the individual?

Conduct a survey within your class.
1. Present the chart (RTF 136KB)
2. Present the Chart of Colour Attributes:

 

Positive Attributes Negative Attributes Colour Choice
Up-beat, confident, assertive, exciting Aggressive, domineering, bossy, threatening  
Feminine, gentle, accessible, non-threatening Pathetic, unimportant, safe, under-confident  
Peaceful, trustworthy, constant, orderly "Holier than thou", tiresome, predictable, conservative  
Earthy, homely, gregarious Safe, boring, unsophisticated  
Cheerful, hopeful, active, uninhibited Impulsive, tiresome, whirlwind, volatile  
Self-reliant, tenacious, nurturing, dependable Boring, stubborn, risk-averse, predictable  
Vital, funny, enthusiastic, sociable, uninhibited Superficial, common, faddist, giddy  
Imaginative, sensitive, intuitive, unusual, unselfish Weird, impractical, immature, superior  
Respectable, neutral, balanced Non-committal, deceptive, uncertain, safe  
Formal, sophisticated, mysterious, strong Mournful, aloof, negative, lifeless  
Pure, clean, fresh, futuristic Clinical, "colourless", cold, neutral  

3. Each student records his/her choice of colour (Number) to match the positive and negative Attributes.

4. Teacher collates and discusses results.

5. Students compose and record conclusions.

Footer:

New Zealand Government

© Crown copyright.