9 Awesome Hands-On Preschool Rainbow Activities

Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: This collection of preschool rainbow activities are amazingly fun! Lots of hands-on exploration that will build important color recognition skills, too. Add them to your rainbow theme!

Hello color!

After a month of winter activities and lots of white, we welcome color into our classroom with a rainbow theme.

Learning about the rainbow is a fun way to build color recognition skills, especially if they are playful.

These 9 preschool rainbow activities have been done by my students in the past few years and thoroughly enjoyed.

And, they bring that much needed color into our environment, just as spring is around the corner!

9 Awesome Hands-On Preschool Rainbow Activities

1. Fun Rainbow Color Sorting Sensory Bin

When I searched for materials while putting together this preschool rainbow activity, I wanted different textures.

I added feathers, pom poms, buttons, and matching cups to compare hard and soft.

I also added tweezers to transfer the materials for a fine motor challenge.

Link: Fun Rainbow Color Sorting Sensory Bin

2. Make Your Own Rainbow Crayons

Wondering what to do with that box of miscellaneous crayons, some of which are broken? Make rainbow crayons!

This is a fun activity to put together and use at the writing table.

And it uses up some of those old crayons you have saved forever.

Link: Make Your Own Rainbow Crayons

 

3. Rainbow Pasta Necklace

Sort the dyed pasta in rainbow order and make a rainbow necklace!

Strengthen those hands and fingers while threading the pasta onto yarn.

Super fun!

Link: Rainbow Threading Activity

4. Rainbow Name Bottles

Learn the letters in your name by placing them inside this fun rainbow rice bottle!

A great way to add some literacy to your rainbow theme.

Link: Letter Beads Discovery Bottle

5. Easy Rainbow Shape Collage Activity

Here’s a super easy way to expose toddlers to the colors of the rainbow … while also build shape recognition skills!

Link: Rainbow Shape Collage

6. Make a Rainbow Fruit Salad

After reading this fun book, End of the Rainbow Fruit Salad, we made our own fruit salad!

A fun way to add a healthy snack to your day, with some simple counting going on, too.

Link: End of the Rainbow Fruit Salad

7. Rainbow Sorting and Fine Motor Craft

There’s a lot going on in this preschool rainbow activity!

First, there is sorting the beads. (Download the free rainbow printable that is included.)

Then, there is assembling the rainbow. The fingers really get a workout threading and twisting.

This is a great 3-dimensional activity!

Link: Fine Motor Rainbow Craft for Preschoolers

8. Build a Rainbow on the Light Table

We love using our rainbow stacker on the light table!

The arches get smaller as you work your way through the rainbow order.

You can find this in our collection of light table activities.

9. Sorting Rainbow Colors

Set out your rainbow color sorting bowls along with a variety of colorful pieces.

You can find this in our collection of science and exploration centers.