Colourblocks - Little Red Riding Hood (S1E16)
Purple stages a version of Little Red Riding Hood, but can the other Colourblocks stick to the story? Learn about colour mixing with the Colourblocks.
| Runtime (min) | 5 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-01-23 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| TV Rating | TV-Y |
| Network(s) | CBeebies |
Storyline
Purple takes center stage to direct a theatrical production of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, casting the other Colourblocks in familiar roles. The episode follows Purple's ambitious attempt to stage the beloved story, with each Colourblock bringing their unique personality and color to the performance. As the play unfolds, the cast struggles to stay true to the traditional narrative, leading to creative detours and unexpected interpretations of the well-known tale.
Throughout the production, the Colourblocks demonstrate color mixing principles as they interact and combine to create new colors needed for costumes, props, and scenery. The theatrical setting provides a playful framework for exploring how primary and secondary colors work together, with each scene offering opportunities to observe color transformations. Purple's directorial vision must adapt as the other Colourblocks improvise and experiment, turning the fairy tale performance into both a storytelling adventure and a hands-on lesson in color theory.
What kids learn
Children learn foundational color mixing concepts through the theatrical framework of a familiar story. By watching the Colourblocks combine to create new hues for their production, young viewers observe how primary colors blend to form secondary colors, reinforcing essential art and science principles. The episode makes abstract color theory concrete and memorable by tying each transformation to a specific character or prop in the fairy tale.
The episode also teaches flexibility and creative problem-solving as Purple's carefully planned production encounters unexpected changes. Children see that when plans don't unfold exactly as intended, adaptation and improvisation can lead to new and equally valuable outcomes. This models resilience and the ability to embrace spontaneity rather than becoming frustrated when things deviate from expectations.
Additionally, the familiar structure of Little Red Riding Hood helps children practice narrative comprehension and sequencing. They can compare the Colourblocks' version to the traditional tale, noticing what stays the same and what changes, which strengthens critical thinking and story analysis skills in an age-appropriate, entertaining context.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What color mixing concepts does this episode teach? | The episode demonstrates how primary colors combine to create secondary colors through the Colourblocks' interactions during the theatrical production. Children observe these transformations in context as characters blend to form new hues needed for costumes, scenery, and props in the play. The five-minute runtime keeps lessons focused and age-appropriate, allowing preschoolers to absorb core color theory without overwhelming detail. |
| Is the Little Red Riding Hood story scary for young children? | The Colourblocks present a gentle, playful adaptation suitable for preschoolers. The theatrical framing and the characters' colorful, abstract forms soften any potentially frightening elements of the traditional tale. The episode prioritizes color education and creative storytelling over suspense or danger, making it appropriate for the show's target audience of children aged three to five. |
| Will my child recognize the original fairy tale? | Children familiar with Little Red Riding Hood will recognize key story elements, though the Colourblocks add their own creative spin. The episode balances honoring the traditional narrative structure with playful departures that serve the color-mixing curriculum. This approach can spark conversations about storytelling, adaptation, and how familiar tales can be reimagined while retaining their essential character. |
| What does Purple's role as director teach about leadership? | Purple's experience directing the play introduces children to leadership concepts like planning, organizing others, and managing a creative project. When the other Colourblocks improvise and stray from the script, Purple must adapt, demonstrating that effective leadership involves flexibility and collaboration rather than rigid control. These lessons are presented gently through the theatrical context without explicit instruction. |
| How can I extend the learning after the episode? | Parents can encourage children to create their own color-mixing experiments with paint or colored water, recreating combinations they saw in the episode. Acting out Little Red Riding Hood or another favorite story with household items reinforces narrative skills and imaginative play. Discussing what stayed the same and what changed in the Colourblocks' version compared to the traditional tale builds critical thinking and comprehension. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | An excitable Red arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour red with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 2 | Cool Blue arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour blue with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 3 | Yellow is happy to bring his colour to Colourland. Learn about the colour yellow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 4 | Red is surprised to discover that she's not the only colour in the world when she meets Blue. Join the Colourblocks to learn which objects can be red and which can be blue, and how some can be both red and blue. |
| 1 | 5 | Red and Blue meet Yellow and have fun colouring the seaside. Discover the colours around you with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 6 | Green arrives, bringing her natural colour to Colourland. Learn about the colour green. |
| 1 | 7 | Blue and Yellow meet a new friend - Green. Discover what happens when you mix blue and yellow with the Colourblocks |
| 1 | 8 | The Colourblocks meet a new animal - but what colour is it? Learn about a creature that can change colour with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 9 | The Colourblocks discover that it can be fun to colour things wrong. Learn about choosing colours. |
| 1 | 10 | Energetic Orange arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour orange. |
| 1 | 11 | Red and Yellow meet new arrival Orange. Discover what happens when you mix red and yellow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 12 | Imaginative Purple arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour purple with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 13 | Red and Blue compete to colour a castle and meet new arrival Purple. Discover what happens when you mix red and blue with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 14 | The Colourblocks decorate Purple's garden and learn about patterns. Discover how to make your own patterns with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 15 | The Colourblocks attempt to solve a rainbow puzzle with the help of new friends Indigo and Violet. Learn about the seven colours of the rainbow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 16 | Purple stages a version of Little Red Riding Hood, but can the other Colourblocks stick to the story? Learn about colour mixing with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 17 | The Colourblocks enjoy a dance, but which colours make the best partners? Learn about similar and complementary colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 18 | Black and White arrive in Colourland. Learn about two colours that are very different from the other Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 19 | Green is surprised when Black and White arrive in her forest. Learn about light and dark colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 20 | Green stages a magic show to introduce her new friends Black and White. Learn the difference between light, bright and dark colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 21 | Fun Pink arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour pink with the Colourblocks! |
| 1 | 22 | Colour explorer Brown arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour brown with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 23 | Brown takes the Colourblocks exploring in the forest. Learn different ways to mix brown with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 24 | Meet the Printing Crew - Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta. Learn how together they can mix lots of colours in the Printing Zone. |
| 1 | 25 | Black and White colour a city with new the help of new friend Grey. Learn to mix different shades of grey with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 26 | Black joins the Printing Crew. Learn how yellow, cyan, magenta and black work together in printing with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 27 | Red and Yellow sort different coloured objects onboard the Sorting Express. Learn to spot the difference between colours and shades with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 28 | Red and Blue choose colours for their playhouses. Learn about making colour choices with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 29 | The Colourblocks discover a series of colour wheels. But where should they sit on them? Learn which colours go next to each other with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 30 | All the Colourblocks come together for a big song. Learn different colours and colour mixes with the Colourblocks. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Welcome to Purple’s mixing factory, where he mixes two colours to create a new colour. In this musical episode, the Colourblocks learn that mixing red and yellow makes orange, whilst adding black and white helps to make darker and lighter colours. When the Printing Crew arrive, we learn how they work together to mix their colours and create new ones. |
| 2 | 2 | It's lunchtime in Colourland! Red invites her friends for lunch, where they try each other’s favourite foods. |
| 2 | 3 | Purple is the host of a fun game show called Name That Colour, with Pink and Brown playing along as contestants. |
| 2 | 4 | Sing along with Orange as she helps Indigo and Violet to colour a rainbow. |
| 2 | 5 | The Printing Crew come to the rescue and print signs for their friends Red, Blue and Green. |
| 2 | 6 | Blue meets Deep Blue and Sky Blue and learns all about their favourite things. They embark on an adventure in a submarine to the depths of the deep blue sea and take a trip up in a plane to discover all about sky blue items |
| 2 | 7 | Red and Yellow try to make a bright orange colour like their good friend Orange. |
| 2 | 8 | Purple wants to decorate his mural with different purples and invites Red and Blue to help him. |
| 2 | 9 | Meet Lime! She’s in between Yellow and Green, fresh and full of zing! In this musical episode, Lime sings her heart out with her beloved electric guitar, loving the limelight. |
| 2 | 10 | It’s the return of the Sorting Express, and Lime’s friends use it to help sort colours for her concert. |
| 2 | 11 | Red, Yellow and Blue colour in various doors leading to unexpected places. |
| 2 | 12 | Red is sad about being inside on a grey day but soon learns that being inside can be just as fun. |
| 2 | 13 | Red is on a colour tour with her friends, showing them the sights of where she did her very first colouring. |
| 2 | 14 | The Colourblocks travel through Colourland on an airship, picking up new and old friends along the way. In this inspiring musical episode, they reminisce about all of the amazing things they've learnt on their colour journey. |
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