It's the first day of school and an excited kindergartner is beaming as he approaches his classroom. He's been waiting for this day for months, but now that it's here, he feels butterflies in his stomach, nervous about his new surroundings. Entering the classroom, he looks around in amazement at all the posters on the walls, the alphabet above the blackboard and the bright colors throughout the room. He stands there for a moment with his eyes wide open and a giant smile spreads across his face. In that moment, all the nervousness, all the annoying little butterflies, went away and only pure excitement permeated his emotions. Even though the entirety of the room made him feel safe, a considerable part of that environment is colored. Teachers have the primary responsibility to create a productive learning environment as this child's teacher did. So what makes color so important? In reference to the child mentioned above, his nervousness eased upon entering class; is it possible? Furthermore, can it actually influence how students learn? Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of color on the brain and emotions, not only in adults but also in children. In fact, a series of tests conducted by engineers at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company indicated that when a person is subjected to a certain color for even just five minutes, their mental and muscular activity changes based on their physiological response to that color. In other words, the emotional or cognitive response to a color can literally influence a person's physical state. Additionally, studies have identified color as influencing various mental conditions. This is due to the relationship of the retina to the ip...... center of the paper ......gn to maximize student performance. Retrieved from http://www.excellence.dgs.ca.gov/MaxStPerformance/S4_4-2.htm5. Gale, Ann Van Nice. (1933). Children's preferences for colors, color combinations, and color arrangements. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.6. Johnson, Virginia. (1992). The power of color. Successful meetings June issue. (41) 7.87, 90.7. Morton, Jill. (2010). Because color matters. Retrieved from http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/why-color-matters8. Simmons, S. (1995). Drawing how to think. Think Magazine, 23-29.9. Wohlfarth, H., & Gates, K. S. (1985). The effects of psychodynamic-environmental color and elementary school lighting modification on blood pressure and mood: a controlled study. International Journal of Biosocial Research. 7, 9-16.