Illustration coming soonThe Color by the Window
Shaindy colors a flower on a card. She holds it under the table lamp. "Purple," she says.
Miri stands by the window. "That looks blue to me." Shaindy presses the card against herself. "It is purple."
"Come and see," says Miri. Shaindy brings the card to the window. The flower looks different here.
Shaindy takes the card back to the lamp. Then she carries it to the window again. Miri walks beside her.
"It looks more blue here," says Shaindy. "And more purple there," says Miri. They hold the card in the same place.
"I thought you were telling me I used the wrong color," says Shaindy. "I was telling you what I could see," says Miri.
Shaindy chooses the place by the window to finish her card. Miri brings the pencil box. Shaindy colors another petal.
"You can stand here with me," says Shaindy. Now both girls can see the card in the same light. The flower still looks a little blue and a little purple.
Activity 1
What does Shaindy hear when Miri says the flower looks blue?
Activity 2
What does Miri mean?
Activity 3
Where do the girls look at the card?
Activity 4
Draw the girls looking at the card together.
Activity 5
With a grown-up, look at the same colored paper in two safe places indoors. Does it look exactly the same?
Activity 6
Say a question Shaindy could ask before deciding Miri is criticizing her.
Activity 7
Does either girl need to be called a liar?
Activity 8
Where does Shaindy choose to finish the card? What does Miri bring?
Grown-up notes and answers
1. She thinks Miri is saying she used the wrong color.
2. She describes the color she can see.
3. Under the lamp and by the window.
4. Accept two girls sharing the same viewing place.
5. Observations may vary; no difference is required. Do not look directly at a lamp or the sun.
6. Examples: What do you mean? Can you show me where it looks blue?
7. No. Their descriptions come from what they see in different light.
8. By the window. Miri brings the pencil box.