Learning about colours in the EFL/EAL classroom

What colour do you think we'll make?

We have been painting today, as part of our project based on THE BIG GREEN MONSTER picture book. The activity was very simple but the language was rich and meaningful. 

This is the second time that the children had been introduced to colour vocabulary in English. We looked at the paint pots and established the colours. I squirted a blob of blue and a blob of yellow paint onto each childs' white paper saying the colours as I did so. Let's mix the colours! I suggested Mix, mix! What colour do you think we'll make? Each child had a guess, some said the colour in French, others in English. I translated what they had said into English, You think it will make purple? You think it will make green? I then invited the children to mix. Some used their fingers, some used paint brushes.

The language heard and used was wonderful mix, mix, mix they sang. Oh green!! Light green! Dark green! Round and round. A circle. A big circle. A small circle. Up and down. Squish! It's cold! Yes, it's like the BIG GREEN MONSTER'S face.....

Think of all the language that went along with this simple activity; Sit down.  Write your name. Put on an apron. You want the pink one? Tidy-up. Take off your apron. Wash your hands. Dry your hands. They are hearing all this language spoken in a completely natural way. 

For children to be able to assimilate and accommodate new language, they need to experience it with ALL their senses and intellect. They need to hear it repeated again and again in as many different contexts as possible. 

Now, what will happen if I mix red and blue?

How do you teach colours? Please share your ideas, I'd love to hear from you.