Episode 7 · Age 5 · Reception
Which Skin Colour?
- Friendship
- With Poppy
Coming soonEpisode 7: Which Skin Colour?
At the drawing table, Poppy asks for “the skin colour crayon” and picks the peach one. Esiri holds it next to his arm: that’s not his skin colour! Everyone finds the crayon that matches them, and they fill a new box labelled “Skin colours” with every shade.
What happens
- The friends sit down to draw pictures of each other.
- Poppy asks for “the skin colour crayon” and picks the peach one.
- Esiri holds it next to his arm. “That’s not my skin colour!” Poppy looks again. “Oh! It’s my shade. It’s not everyone’s.”
- Poppy has an idea: let’s find everyone’s shade! Each friend finds the crayon that matches their skin, from deep brown to peach.
- They fill a new box labelled “Skin colours” with every shade, and draw all five friends together.
Talk about it
- Which crayon matches your skin? What would you call that shade?
- Why isn’t it fair to call just one crayon “skin colour”?
- What would you put in a “Skin colours” box?
Try at home
Make a skin colours box
Find every crayon, pencil and paint that could be someone’s skin. Put them in one box and label it “Skin colours”.
Shade hunt
Hold crayons next to your hand, and your family’s hands, until you find each person’s match. Give each shade a name.
Brave words for age 5
“Stop! That’s not kind. My skin is brilliant! I’m telling a grown-up.”
If the first grown-up doesn’t help, tell another one.
RememberEvery shade is a skin colour.
For nurseries and schools: curriculum links
Development Matters, Reception
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development“Think about the perspectives of others.”
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development“Build constructive and respectful relationships.”