STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Light and Color– Writing Tips & Resources

By on September 15, 2026   /   Light and Color, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment
A speckled green leaf next to a painting with a watercolor version of the leaf.

Warm, cool, bright, energetic, somber, dull, faded, vivid, pastel, glowing.

We use a lot of words to talk about colors!

Research finds that colors can change our moods, and we use color to communicate our thoughts and emotions.

I’m an illustrator (as well as a children’s author), so I use color a lot. It can set the mood for a story or add energy to an exciting moment. It’s also a fickle thing. A color may look bright on a blank page, but turn dull when it’s surrounded by a different color.

We invent fun names for colors and create color wheels to sort them into patterns. Some people can see colors that no one else is able to see. So, why not play with color a little this week?

Here are two projects to get you started!

A glass bowl of mashed beets sitting on a brown table. A wooden spoon sits on top of the bowl with a spoonful of purple-red beet pulp.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Project #1: Create Your Own Colors

This project requires a little hands-on work. You may also need to spend some time outside foraging, or you can find supplies at the grocery store to make your colors.

Start by thinking about nature materials that have bright colors.

You may have some ideas already if you’ve read about the history of colors or foraging. (Two great books from this month’s list: Before Colors: Where Pigments and Dyes Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel and Madison Safer and How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Making by Jason Logan.)

If not, get creative and make a list!

Think about plants that leave a stain—beets, purple cabbage, walnut shells. You can boil and smash them to extract the juice. Once the liquid has cooled, strain out the pulp.

What about rocks or dirt? Try grinding up soft rocks like chalk. Or, you can collect dark or reddish soils to see what colors you can make. You may need to add water to soften the pigment and make grainy paint.

Collect your colors on a tray or in small jars. Now it’s time to try them out!

Paint small swatches of your color. As you do, make sure you write down your materials! What did you use? Where did you find them? What worked—or didn’t work?

Can you name the colors you created?

A speckled green leaf next to a painting with a watercolor version of the leaf.

Photo and painting by Audrey Sauble

Project #2: Journal with Your Colors

Journaling is a fun way to combine art (color) and writing. If you’ve done project #1, you’ll have a set of colors ready to go. Prefer to use ready-made colors? Watercolor paints, finger paints, or any other art tool will work fine.

First, plan your journal page—do you want to plan it first, then paint? Or can you be spontaneous?

You could:

  • Make a self-portrait
  • Paint something you noticed outside
  • Make color swatches and mix your paints to create new colors
  • Scrub your new paints across the page in an abstract pattern
  • Add backgrounds or fancy borders to your page.

As you paint, add some notes. What questions do you have about color after this project? What did you notice while working on it? Would you try something different next time? What happened when you combined two colors?

You may also want to add ‘metadata’ or information about your project: date, time, location, goals, results.

Final thoughts:

When it comes to color, there’s a whole rainbow to explore! You could try either of these projects several times and still have more to explore. So, keep playing with color! (And write down what you discover to spark new ideas for your next color adventure!)

– – –

Photo of Audrey Sauble holding one of her picture books.

Audrey Sauble is a children’s author and science illustrator with a passion for exploring nature through picture books. She started writing picture books several years ago after her oldest asked a question that turned into a conversation. Her new release, Can a Rock Grow?, is the third book in her Early Science Questions series.

You can find her books and various kid activities on her website, aesauble.com.

 

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STEM Tuesday– Light and Color– In the Classroom

By on September 8, 2026   /   Light and Color, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Light and color are everywhere! We see them in rainbows after a storm, bright flowers outside, and the colorful images glowing on our screens. But have you ever wondered how light creates all those colors? Exploring light and color is a great way to get middle-grade students excited about science. In these books, readers can discover how light travels, bends, bounces, and separates into different colors. They can learn about how colors form and think about why objects look the way they do. They make a great starting point for classroom discussion and activities!

 

A pale background covered with colorful hand drawn plants, flowers, berries, and natural materials, with the large green title in the center and a small child illustration at the bottom.Before Colors: Where Pigments and Dyes Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel and Madison Safer
This browsable book explores the science and history of color in a BIG way…literally! Its large format makes it stand out on any bookshelf, and for good reason. Safer’s captivating illustrations and Pimentel’s straightforward explanations help demystify the amazing pigments that make up our world and spotlight a diverse group of makers and inventors who have used color in unique ways.

 

A black background scattered with colorful natural objects, plants, flowers, berries, pigments, tools, and containers, surrounding the large white title.How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Making by Jason Logan
With this guide in hand, readers can explore the world around them and discover the magic of color. At the intersection of art, ecology, and chemistry, this book instructs young wizards how to create their own confetti, sidewalk chalk, ink, spray paint, and more. Please note that adult supervision/assistance is required for some of the featured projects.

 

Classroom Activity  – Make Your Own Natural Paints

Have you ever wondered where paint colors came from before you could buy them at a store? Let students experiment with safe natural materials such as berries, turmeric, spinach, soil, or charcoal. Crush or mix the materials with water, then test the homemade colors on paper. Which materials make the brightest colors? Which ones fade the fastest?

 

A comic book style cover featuring Max Axiom standing with his arms raised as bright white beams of light radiate dramatically behind him.The Illuminating World of Light with Max Axiom, Super Scientist (Graphic Science) by Emily Sohn
This engaging graphic science resource brings complex concepts about light and energy to life through an exciting superhero format. Clear explanations, vibrant illustrations, and accessible vocabulary help students build science knowledge while supporting visual learning. A valuable classroom tool for sparking curiosity and encouraging STEM exploration among upper elementary readers.

 

Classroom Activity – Set Up a Light Lab

Turn your classroom into a mini science lab! Set out flashlights, mirrors, prisms, colored filters, and other materials and let students explore. What happens when light hits a mirror? Can they bend light or separate white light into different colors? Have students sketch and write about what they discover.

 

A black cover featuring a child surrounded by swirling trails of blue and red light, with the word LIGHT in large photographic lettering across the top.Exploring the Science of Light: 30+ Illuminating Experiments and Colorful Science Activities by The Exploratorium
Through hands-on projects and crafts, this book encourages exploration of sunlight, shadows, and color. Readers can follow step-by-step instructions to make a pinhole camera, cyanotype painting, or even a solar-powered scribbler. Each activity includes a short explanation of the science behind it.

 

Classroom Activity –  Make a Rainbow

You don’t have to wait for a rainy day to see a rainbow. Challenge students to create rainbows using prisms, water, mirrors, or sunlight. Then talk about why white light separates into different colors. For an added twist, students can explore what rainbows mean in different cultures around the world.

 

A bold optical illusion design of wavy yellow, white, blue, and black shapes that appear to move or distort around the large title.Fantastic Optical Illusions by DK
This visually captivating resource invites young readers to explore the science behind optical illusions and how our brains interpret the world. Interactive examples and eye-catching designs encourage observation, critical thinking, and curiosity. A great classroom choice for sparking discussions about perception, light, and the science of seeing.

 

Classroom Activity – Fool Your Eyes with an Optical Illusion

Can you always believe what your eyes tell you? Challenge students to create their own optical illusions using colors, lines, shapes, and patterns. Have classmates look at each creation and describe what they see. Then students can investigate why the illusion works and learn how our eyes and brains work together to make sense of what we see.

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Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at http://www.carlamooney.com, on Facebook @carlamooneyauthor, or on Instagram @moonwriter25

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STEM Tuesday– Light and Color– Book List

By on September 1, 2026   /   Light and Color, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jump into the world of color and light with this month’s book list!

 

A comic book style cover featuring Max Axiom standing with his arms raised as bright white beams of light radiate dramatically behind him.

The Illuminating World of Light with Max Axiom, Super Scientist (Graphic Science) written by Emily Sohn
This engaging graphic science resource brings complex concepts about light and energy to life through an exciting superhero format. Clear explanations, vibrant illustrations, and accessible vocabulary help students build science knowledge while supporting visual learning. A valuable classroom tool for sparking curiosity and encouraging STEM exploration among upper elementary readers.

 

A pale background covered with colorful hand drawn plants, flowers, berries, and natural materials, with the large green title in the center and a small child illustration at the bottom.

 

Before Colors: Where Pigments and Dyes Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel and Madison Safer
This browseable book explores the science and history of color in a BIG way…literally! Its large format makes it stand out on any bookshelf, and for good reason. Safer’s captivating illustrations and Pimentel’s straightforward explanations help to demystify all the amazing pigments that make up our world and to spotlight a diverse group of makers and inventors who have used color in unique ways.

 

A rainbow of bold painted color bands fills the background, with the large black and white title across the middle and a cartoon character appearing at the bottom.

 

 

What is Color? The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art by Steven Weinberg
If you’ve ever wondered what pigments you can make from cow urine or dead bodies, then this is the book for you! Told in a conversational tone and filled with wacky facts, this illustrated book takes readers on a worldwide journey through the color spectrum, one hue at a time, in a quest to answer the biggest, titular question: what is color? The back matter contains a variety of STEM and art activities that can be done at school or at home.

 

A black background scattered with colorful natural objects, plants, flowers, berries, pigments, tools, and containers, surrounding the large white title.

 

How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Making by Jason Logan
With this guide in hand, readers can explore the world around them and discover the magic of color. At the intersection of art, ecology, and chemistry, this book instructs young wizards how to create their own confetti, sidewalk chalk, ink, spray paint, and more. Please note that adult supervision/assistance is required for some of the featured projects.

 

 

A black cover featuring a child surrounded by swirling trails of blue and red light, with the word LIGHT in large photographic lettering across the top.

 

Exploring the Science of Light: 30+ Illuminating Experiments and Colorful Science Activities by The Exploratorium
Through hands-on projects and crafts, this book encourages exploration of sunlight, shadows, and color. Readers can follow step-by-step instructions to make a pinhole camera, cyanotype painting, or even a solar-powered scribbler. Each activity is accompanied by a short explanation of the science that makes it possible.

 

A bright yellow and blue cartoon style cover showing a child looking through an optical device, with another character and a bee appearing in the scene.

 

Explore Light and Optics!: With 25 Great Projects written by Anita Yasuda and illustrated by Bryan Stone
This hands-on science resource encourages young readers to explore the fascinating world of light through engaging experiments and activities. Step-by-step projects, clear explanations, and supportive illustrations make complex concepts accessible and fun. A strong choice for classrooms, makerspaces, and STEM learning environments where students can learn through discovery and investigation.

 

 

 

A minimalist pink cover dominated by a large rainbow made of thick colored bands, with the title placed near the bottom.

Over the Rainbow: The Science, Magic, and Meaning of Rainbows written by Rachael Davis and illustrated by Wenjia Tan
This beautifully crafted science resource blends scientific discovery with cultural connections to explore one of nature’s most captivating phenomena. Rich explanations and engaging artwork help young readers understand the science behind rainbows while inspiring wonder and curiosity. A wonderful addition to classrooms exploring light, weather, and the connections between science and the world around us.

 

A bold optical illusion design of wavy yellow, white, blue, and black shapes that appear to move or distort around the large title.

 

 

Fantastic Optical Illusions by DK
This visually captivating resource invites young readers to explore the fascinating science behind optical illusions and the way our brains interpret the world. Interactive examples and eye-catching designs encourage observation, critical thinking, and curiosity. A great classroom choice for sparking discussions about perception, light, and the science of seeing.

 

 

A bright, graphic cover with multicolored rays radiating outward around a large white eye. Inside the eye is a small circular kaleidoscope pattern.

 

Kaleidoscope: Step into a world of color written by Laura Mucha and illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti
This vibrant exploration of color invites young readers to discover the science, creativity, and wonder behind the colors they see every day. Engaging text and striking illustrations encourage observation, imagination, and curiosity about the natural world. A beautiful addition to classrooms exploring art, light, and the science of color.

 

 

A rich blue cover showing a young girl surrounded by blue flowers and waterlike patterns while holding a mortar and pestle containing blue pigment.

 

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond and Daniel Minter
This gorgeously illustrated picture book explores the cultural, linguistic, and scientific significance of the color blue. It takes readers on a global expedition from lapis lazuli stones in ancient Egypt to sea snails along the Mediterranean to the synthetic “chemical blue” invented by a chemist named Adolf von Baeyer. Along the way, it traces the indigo plant’s role in fueling the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the religious symbolism of the color blue, and why we sing the blues when we’re feeling…well, blue.

 

 

 

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This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Author Lydia Lukidis

 

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 60+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.  Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

 

 

 

author Callie Dean

 

Callie Dean is a researcher, writer, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. Her first picture book, Marvelous Mistakes: Accidents That Made History, will be published in 2026. For more information, please visit https://calliebdean.com.

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