Build Fine Motor Skills with this Preschool Rainbow Threading Activity

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Inside: This preschool rainbow threading activity is a nice, calming activity. Not only does it build fine motor skills, but it also strengthens color recognition.

Making a necklace is a great fine motor rainbow threading activity for preschoolers.

Each year we do some version of this, such as last year when we made a necklace with cut straws.

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I did this particular activity during small groups. I showed them a picture of a rainbow and they sorted the colored macaroni so that they had one of each color.

Then, we worked on fine motor skills by threading them with plastic needles.

They were so excited to wear their necklaces!

Build Fine Motor Skills with this Preschool Rainbow Threading Activity

I love planning rainbow activities. You’ve seen how we’ve made a huge color wheel.

So, by the time we make our rainbow necklaces, our preschoolers have a pretty good idea of what colors they will be using.

What you will need for this rainbow necklace activity:

Any kind of pasta that you can thread
Yarn
A plastic needle
Food coloring to dye the macaroni (we love Wilton’s icing gels)

Preparing this activity:

Dye your macaroni the colors of the rainbow. I use the same method for macaroni as when we dyed our rice for our sunflower sensory bin.
Cut the yarn so that it will fit around a preschooler’s neck. (You can be generous and then cut the yarn later if it’s too large.)
Tie the yarn to the plastic needle and place the dyed macaroni in separate containers.
Set the containers of dyed macaroni on the table in rainbow order.

Making these rainbow necklaces:

Show your children how to hold the needle (attached to the yarn) with their “worker hand” (dominant hand).

Then, with their “helper hand” (non-dominant hand), slip the macaroni through the needle and thread.

(Note: You can take one of the macaroni pieces and tie it on the end of the yarn so the other macaroni pieces don’t slide off the yarn. Then, when the necklace is finished, untie that piece and let it join the others.)

While the children are putting the dyed macaroni on their necklaces, have them identify what each color is.

Show them that they’ve now made their own rainbow to wear!

When the threading is completed:

Remove the plastic needle and connect the necklace by tying it.

More ideas your preschoolers will like:

Planning your colors theme? We’ve done the work for you!

I am so excited to be a co-author of these color theme lesson plans.

24 preschool learning activities for your colors theme, including literacy, math, science, art, fine motor, and more! A great resource for teachers and homeschoolers.

24 preschool learning activities that cover