Learn how to create your own rainbow discovery zone, using a selection from these rainbow-themed activities. These rainbow lesson plans and resources include ideas maths, literacy, art, craft, and sensory play – plus a range of free rainbow-themed printables. Make your planning easy – and your lessons colourful and engaging for your children!
How to create a rainbow unit
You can pick-and-mix from the activities below to create a rainbow-themed unit that covers a wide range of curriculum areas.
You might plan one or two activities each day, or set them all out as part of a rainbow discovery zone.
In addition to the ideas listed below, your rainbow discovery zone might include:
:: information books on rainbows, colour/light science, and art colour theory:: a picture of a colour wheel
:: story books with a rainbow theme, perhaps Rainbow Crow by Nancy Van Laan and The Rainbow Bear by Michael Morpurgo
:: a selection of loose parts in rainbow colours that children can use for imaginary play and construciton: wooden tiles and rings, stacking cups, bottle tops, building blocks
:: a selection of art materials including paper, card, felt and tissue paper in rainbow colours
:: a selection of writing/drawing materials in rainbow colours, including chalks, wax crayons, water colour pencils
:: play dough in rainbow colours – this is my favourite homemade playdough recipe
Create your rainbow unit pick-and-mix
Use this list of rainbow activities to build your own rainbow unit that’s just right for your child. You can use the text links, or if you prefer a visual, scroll down to find clickable images of each activity.
You can click each link to get full details of how to set up each idea, and to access all the free rainbow-themed printables.
Rainbow maths activities
Rainbow colour sorting and matching games
A collection of rainbow maths activities, including number recognition, addition, subraction, maths facts and number lines.
Rainbow literacy activities
A collection of rainbow themed literacy activities
Free printable rainbow journal pages
Rainbow words to learn spellings
Days of the Week wheel printable
Rainbow art and crafts
Explore the color wheel with these ready-made color theory art lessons
Rainbow fine motor skills activities
I love t activities here
what books are on the shelf?