There are over ten million colors in the world, and that’s just the ones we can see. We tend to learn about the basics, but why limit ourselves? Colors have cool histories, intriguing origins, cultural meanings, wonderful names. Plus, they are often quite beautiful. And beauty is showing promise as a way to help kids (and us!) learn.
With all this rich possibility swirling in the world, we invite you to take a journey into colors—whether you are 5 or 50 or even 85. Use them to teach yourself fascinating things about history, science, language, and culture (maybe even math!). Go on color treasure hunts, taste them or tinker with them. We’re here to send you on your colorful way, continuing our color journey with zaffre.
Of course, in our very own alphabet book, we also include old favorites like red, orange, yellow, green, blue (as part of the denim page) and purple. But with 26 letters to illustrate, we also saw a beautiful opportunity: to paint the world from an azure sky to a zaffre goodbye.
Zaffre Pronunciation Video
4 Fun Facts About Zaffre
1. According to Wikipedia, the first recorded use of the name zaffre for this brilliant blue was in the 1550s and referred to the color that resulted from roasting cobalt ore.
2. Zaffre is developed from cobalt oxide or cobalt arseniate.
3. Zaffre is a synthetic mixture that is similar to smalt and used to create the deep blue color in ceramics and blue enamels.
4. Zaffre is also considered a pre-scientific substance that was used in the Victorian era to stain glass blue. That means it got this status before the time of modern science.
Take a Color Walk
One great way to become more attuned to the colors around you is to take a color walk. It’s easy to do: simply decide on your color-of-the-day, and look for it wherever you roam. Take pictures, jot notes, or just keep your findings in mind. If you feel so inspired write a color vignette when you get home.
Count Your Colors
For younger color walk participants, we’ve created a special My Color Counting Book that reinforces color names, days of the week, sorting, counting, and adding. Just print and enjoy, at home or for a math or literacy center in the classroom!
Zaffre Haiku Poetry Prompt
Try your hand at a zaffre haiku. Use the “fun facts” or findings from your color walk as inspiration if you like. Need more inspiration? Check out our haiku infographic.
Brilliant ink-on-tile illustrations created with a secret process bring the alphabet to colorful life. Children will delight in the rich, poetic language of colors like emerald, jasmine, and quartz—while also meeting old favorites like yellow, orange and purple.
Related Article at Huffington Post: 5 Great Reasons to Color the Core of Kids’ Learning
Featured zaffre image by Donna Z. Falcone. Used with permission.
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Donna says
5 foot nearly 2
eyes of deepest zaffre blue
oh what they could do
For my mother – who really was nearly 5 foot 2, in her younger days, and who really was blue eyed like her oldest daughter (me), and who learned to see the world through the artists’ eyes she was born with.
It’s funny what a little distance can do to unwrap the bubblewrap that shields and protects precious cargo. Until today, on seeing and hearing this, I never even realized that Z is also for Zukaitis, my maiden name, and that cobalt was the only color I ever saw her powerfully attracted to – especially in glass. I think this may have been her favorite page.
Donna says
(for anyone who doesn’t know the 5 foot 2 song – also one of my mom’s favorites – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gdm5z6Mt6o)
Katie says
What a fun peppy song! Thank you for sharing, Donna.:)
Love your haiku!
Gratefully,
Katie
Donna Falcone says
Thank you, Katie! I was raised on Mitch Miller!
Megan Willome says
I know the song. I love your poem.
Donna Falcone says
Thank you, Megan. 🙂
Sandra Heska King says
I know that song–every word from memory.
And the last paragraph of your comment kind of gave me goosebumps.
Donna Falcone says
Thanks Sandra. Those old songs take me back. Mitch Miller basically taught me how to read!
The things you notice, huh? I was bonking my head in disbelief. AND I think the lovely author has psychic powers… or something. Love, I think. Lots of that.
Bethany R. says
What a beautiful poem, Donna. <3
Donna Falcone says
Thanks Bethany. 🙂
L.L. Barkat says
I absolutely love the textures in this particular painting, Donna. Makes me want to reach out and touch the page when I see it in the book.
Lucky me, having a few of your actual tiles, I can experience the art in all its glorious brilliance. (And, hey, I got to learn some new color words because of your art journey. Always a plus. 🙂 )
Donna Falcone says
Thank you, LL. 🙂 I think there is something magical about alcohol ink… I just love it.
I learned a lot of new words, too!
Katie says
Thank you for this post! I have SO enjoyed following and learning from the links:)
This cinquain is one inspiration I’m sharing here:
Zaffre
deepest of blues
I swoon seeing your bright
dark hues, roasted cobalt ore, ground
with sand.
Hope to try a haiku next.
The images of the stained glass windows were breath-taking!
Gratefully,
Katie
Donna Falcone says
I just love the thought of roasted cobalt. It almost seems like you could eat it…. 😉
Katie says
Thank you, Donna:)
Katie says
zaffre, cobalt blue
simultaneously dark
and bright, dazzling hue
Donna Falcone says
I like the way you honor both the dark and the light in your haiku, Kaite. 🙂
Katie says
Thanks, Donna:)
Both are surely part of our human experience, from without and within. I am so thankful for the beauty in this world both in creation and humanity:) Being part of the TSP community has so enriched my life. I feel very blessed to have a place to grow and learn and share:)
Gratefully,
Katie