The science of colours and emotion – KS4 physics, chemistry and biology lesson plan and worksheets

Help your pupils understand how the interplay of chemistry and light affects the colours we see, and in turn the emotions we feel…

Light is a physical phenomenon, an electromagnetic wave, that is responsible for our perceptions of colour.

Without light there cannot be colour. The colour of an object, such as a T-shirt or mobile phone case, is determined by chemistry – in particular the wavelengths of light that are absorbed and transmitted by the chemicals in the object or on its surface.

In turn, colour affects our emotions, imagination and thoughts. These fascinating connections allow you to make links between physics, chemistry and biology, and the unexpected effect of light on our imaginations.

Download includes

Full PDF lesson plan and five accompanying worksheets in both Word Doc and PDF formats.

Why teach this?

Why do we feel blue when we are sad? Why does red arouse feelings of attractiveness and anger? Why does yellow make us feel cheerful? How do colours affect our emotions and how can we manipulate our mood using colour and light?

Key curriculum links

Explore the relationship between colour, light and imagination with your KS4 scientists. This lesson looks at the physics of light, the chemistry of colour and the biology of your imagination.