Colourblocks - Grey (S1E25)
Black and White colour a city with new the help of new friend Grey. Learn to mix different shades of grey with the Colourblocks.
| Runtime (min) | 5 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-01-30 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| TV Rating | TV-Y |
| Network(s) | CBeebies |
Storyline
In this episode, Black and White discover they can create an entirely new friend when they come together: Grey. The three Colourblocks set out to color a city scene, with Grey demonstrating how useful a neutral color can be for buildings, roads, and other urban elements. As they work, the episode explores how different amounts of Black and White can produce various shades of grey, from very light to very dark.
The Colourblocks experiment with mixing to show young viewers that grey isn't just one color but a whole family of shades. By adjusting how much Black or White they use, they create lighter greys for some parts of the city and darker greys for others. The episode emphasizes collaboration and creativity as the three friends work together to complete their cityscape, celebrating how combining colors can lead to something new and valuable.
What kids learn
Children learn foundational color-mixing concepts by watching Black and White combine to create Grey. The episode makes the abstract idea of neutral colors concrete and accessible, showing that grey is not a single shade but a spectrum created by varying proportions of black and white. This hands-on demonstration helps preschoolers understand that colors can blend to form entirely new colors, building early STEM skills through visual experimentation.
The episode also reinforces the value of collaboration and friendship. Black, White, and Grey work as a team to color the city, demonstrating that different contributions can come together to achieve a shared goal. Young viewers see that each Colourblock brings something important to the project, teaching lessons about cooperation and appreciating what each friend adds to group activities.
Additionally, children gain vocabulary related to shades and tones. Terms like "lighter," "darker," and "shade" are introduced in context, helping kids develop descriptive language for talking about colors and visual differences they observe in the world around them.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What color concept does this episode teach? | This episode introduces the concept that black and white combine to create grey, and that grey exists as a range of shades depending on how much black or white is used. Children see that mixing colors can produce entirely new colors, and that one color name can represent many different tones. This foundational understanding prepares kids for more complex color theory as they grow. |
| Is this episode appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers? | Yes, the five-minute runtime and simple visual demonstrations make this episode ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. The Colourblocks use clear, age-appropriate language and show color mixing through friendly character interactions rather than abstract instruction. The city-coloring activity provides a relatable context that helps young children connect the color lesson to objects they see in everyday life. |
| How can we practice making grey at home after watching? | Provide your child with black and white paint, crayons, or playdough to experiment with mixing. Let them create their own shades of grey by combining different amounts of each color. You can also go on a "grey hunt" around your home or neighborhood, identifying objects in various shades of grey and discussing whether they're lighter or darker, reinforcing the vocabulary from the episode. |
| Does the episode explain why grey is useful for coloring a city? | Yes, the Colourblocks demonstrate that grey is a practical color for urban elements like buildings, roads, and sidewalks. This helps children understand that different colors serve different purposes and that neutral colors like grey are common in constructed environments. The episode shows grey as valuable and interesting rather than dull, encouraging kids to notice and appreciate neutral tones around them. |
| What social skills does this episode reinforce? | The episode emphasizes teamwork and collaboration as Black, White, and Grey work together to complete the city scene. Children see that each Colourblock contributes something important and that their combined efforts create something none could achieve alone. This models positive peer interaction and shows that welcoming a new friend into a group can lead to creative and rewarding experiences for everyone involved. |
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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