Magic Color Pendulum

In this magic color pendulum, rainbow colored balls swing through the air creating Color Theory enchantment. This project covers Common Core Standards for Science for grades K-8 which can be found at the end of the lesson.

Grade Level

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Objective

In this Magic Color Pendulum art lesson, students will identify color theory groups. Students discover the rhythm in a pendulum wave and how it is created. Then can even make one in their own home!

Time

1 – 60 min lesson

Materials

• Pencils
• Copy paper

This is the main video of the pendulum with color theory connections (I could not find the original owners of the video): Click Here

Inspiration/Artist

I was inspired to make this project after I saw this Youtube video: Click Here

Instruction with Questions

Day 1

Here is a fun science art connection! These balls are all hanging from the wooden beam. As they swing, they will naturally create groups.

You can use this as an introduction to color theory. Have students watch the video and tell you what they witnessed. Have them watch it again and document what groups they saw forming.

Or, use this as a review and use the same format. Both ways are great learning tools for engaging their brains. Here are a couple of more resources that can extend this lesson and connect with science.

Use this Color Theory for kids inspired by Disney PowerPoint Presentation: Click Here

This is the main video of the pendulum with color theory connections (I could not find the original owners of the video): Click Here

As students watch the video, have them look for magical groupings.

Primary colors – red, yellow, blue
And
Secondary colors – orange, green, purple

Warm (red, orange, yellow)
And
Cool (green, blue, purple)

Complimentary colors –
Red & Green (think Christmas)
Blue & Orange (think Halloween)
Purple & Yellow (think Easter)

Watch as the colorful balls on the pendulum unravel. After they create a variety of shapes, they finally return to the way they began.

See if you can find these combinations in your home, sports teams, Disney characters or superheroes, etc. Have students make lists for each color grouping.

Check out this additional video about how a pendulum works: Click Here

Sand pendulums – Lissajous patterns – part one // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

Here is a great directive on how to make a pendulum with kids: Click Here

Finally

Students create their own pendulum at home. This can be done using a variety of simple things found around their homes. There are many ideas on Pinterest and Google. Maybe they make theirs using a marble or salt or drip painting. You could even introduce them to Jackson Pollock and his drip painting technique!

www.hellowonderful.co/post/pendulum-painting-with-kids/

Common Core Standards

Kindergarten

Physical Sciences

1. Properties of materials can be observed, measured, and predicted
a. Students know objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of and their physical properties

Investigation and Experimentation
4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. Students will:
d. Compare and sort common objects by one physical attribute
e. Communicate observations orally and through drawings.

1st Grade – Science

Investigation and Experimentation
4. Students will:
b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.
d. Describe the relative position of objects by using two references

2nd Grade – Science

Physical Sciences

1. The motion of objects can be observed and measured. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know the position of an object can be described by locating it in relation to another object
b. Students know an object’s motion can be described by recording the change in position of the object over time.
c. Students know the way to change how something is moving is by giving it a push or a pull. The size of the change is related to the strength, or the amount of force, of the push or pull.
d. Students know tools and machines are used to apply pushes and pulls (forces) to make things move.
e. Students know objects fall to the ground

Investigation and Experimentation

4. Students will:
a. Make predictions based on observed patterns and not random guessing.
b. Measure length, weight, temperature, and liquid volume with appropriate tools and express those measurements in standard metric system units.
c. Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes.
d. Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.
g. Follow oral instructions for a scientific investigation.

3rd Grade – Science

Investigation and Experimentation

5. Students will:
a. Repeat observations to improve accuracy
b. Differentiate evidence from opinion
c. Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects, events, and measurements.
d. Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and compare the result with the prediction.
e. Collect data in an investigation and analyze those data to develop a logical conclusion.

4th Grade – Science

Investigation and Experimentation

6. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. Students will:
a. Differentiate observation from inference (interpretation) and know scientists’ explanations come partly from what they observe and partly from how they interpret their observations.
b. Measure and estimate the weight, length, or volume of objects.
c. Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships.
d. Conduct multiple trials to test a prediction and draw conclusions about the relationships between predictions and results.
e. Construct and interpret graphs from measurements.
f. Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation.

5th-8th Grade – Science

Investigation and Experimentation

All

Check out more lessons like this one in my Best Color Theory Art Lessons for Kids post: Click Here