Posted by Melissa Taylor on 09 Sep 2010
8 Comments
8 Comments
Synesthesia is the subjective sensation of a sense other than the one being stimulated like seeing the number 4 as dark purple. The memoir, Born on a Blue Day, of Daniel Tammet who has synesthesia, got me thinking, . . . what if we all could see words as colors? What if we feel words as colors?
For kids, start literally by making a color book.
Preschoolers – First Graders: Make a color collection book.
Second Graders to Adults: Make a color word book listing nouns of each color.
Advanced writers: Add to your book words that aren’t of that color. Add words that you see and feel, as if you were a synesthete.
What verbs or adjectives would you add to this brown page?
whisper?
crinkled?
frown?
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Melissa Taylor is a mom and educator from Denver who is passionate about playful learning. Thanks for visiting the site!
8 Comments
I like the idea of the color book a lot. Your post reminded me of Joni Sensel’s MG novel, “The Humming of Numbers” (Henry Holt, 2008), which concerns, in part, synesthesia! She’s a terrific author.
[...] Oooh. Aaaah. Colored milk! Does it remind you of yesterday’s post on writing in color? [...]
@Samantha, Thanks for the recommendation – I’ll check it out!
Later today my 5 year old was helping me brainstorm things that are red. She said “eyes” . . . I wonder if it’s time for those lubricating drops from the eye doctor?
Melissa – I have a 5 yr old, too so I especially laughed. While mine are not “red,” they feel that way! More sleep is the prescription.
I have synethesia, although I didn’t know it had a name until very recently. I have always seen numbers and letters in my mind’s eye in various colors. For example, 2 is orange, 4 is yellow, B is red. It certainly helps when trying to remember a combinations of numbers or letters, like addresses or phone numbers!
When I was young I assumed everyone saw numbers like this. I remember asking my parents once, though, and they told me they did not. I did not know there was a name for this “condition” until I read this article in Salon: http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2008/01/15/synesthesia
The color book idea is cool! I will pass it on to the preschool teachers I work with.
Another great post!
I can see this being a wonderful exercise to do together with my daughter.
Each of us making our own lists, then comparing.
This is going on our “to do”..very soon list!
Thanks, Char — have fun!
Mary, I’m so intrigued with your story, that you assumed everyone else saw the world the same way! I wish I could see through your eyes for just one day. Amazing!
I love this idea. Thank you for the inspiration. I’ll be linking up. Stop by and visit us sometime.