We have a colorful theme for this week’s Playful Preschool Series . It is time to think Spring and explore rainbows.
This literacy activity is packed with color, language play and a good dose of gross motor exercise!
Rainbow Language Activity
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Why We Chose This Language Activity
Watching young children discover and expand their vocabulary is one of the most rewarding parts of working with preschoolers. Using descriptive words (color words, size words, shape words, etc.) in daily conversation is one of the language goals we have for little ones.
My kids are all about rainbows right now. In fact, they designed about 80% of this game!
Setting Up and Playing
Materials Needed: rainbow rug (We found our rug in the Dollar Spot of Target. You could also use a paper rainbow.), construction paper (rainbow colors), index cards, markers
1. Tape the construction paper rectangles together to create a long ladder road. Let the kids help by cutting the tape to build fine motor skills.
2. Attach the paper ladder road to the floor to prevent slipping. Then, place the rainbow rug at one end.
3. On each index card write a color word. Use two more index cards to write “small” and “large”. Also, draw an empty black pot on one index card.
It is time to play! The goal is to reach the rainbow by naming objects that match color and size cards drawn.
The player chooses a card from the color stack and one of the size cards. Name an object that is the color drawn and the correct size. For example, a green card and a big card could be a tree, lawn or a car. If the answer is correct, the player moves ahead one space.
If an empty pot is drawn, the player moves back to start. Play continues until the player reaches the rainbow.
Lots of language development in a fun playful preschool activity!
Continue the language development with some of these fun rainbow read-aloud books.
Read A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman and then invite your child to tell you what he would do if he had his own rainbow.
For even more spring resources for preschoolers, grab our Spring Literacy Unit. It’s four weeks of literacy learning complete with dramatic play printables, circle time songs, and more.—>Get the Spring Preschool Literacy Unit Here.
Keep reading. Visit the links below for more great rainbow ideas from the #playfulpreschool team!
Rainbow Letter Formation Sticky Wall by Still Playing School
Rainbow Sensory Bin by Tiny Tots Adventures
Inventing Their Own Songs to Encourage Creativity by Capri + 3
Rainbow Domino Game by Rainy Day Mum
Rainbow Patterns with Blocks by Mom Inspired Life
Scented Rainbow Science and Sensory Play by Fun-A-Day
Preschool Engineering with Rainbows by Natural Beach Living
Design a Rainbow Technology Connection by The Educators’ Spin On It
Disappearing Rainbow Colors by Learning to Walk
Creating Salty Rainbows with Preschoolers by Life Over C’s
Rainbow Ice and Salt Experiment for Preschool by Powerful Mothering
Alecia says
Your rainbow mat is so cute and this activity can be used to learn so many other fun concepts as well. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Catherine @ Story Snug says
This is such a fun game. Have pinned it 🙂
Nicolette Roux (Powerful Mothering) says
LOVE it! I was just thinking about making something with patterning
Natasha says
I love this idea! We have been working on size a lot lately.
Theresa says
This is a great game! I love that it encourages kids to think on their feet.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thanks Theresa, with two little boys I’m constantly thinking of movement activities that we can use as vehicles to learn!
Danielle says
My son would LOVE this! The rainbow mat is perfect for this too. Great activity!
Kim says
What a fun idea! I love that it’s easy to put together and really helps kids connect the different vocabulary words!
Devany says
I almost bought that same mat! Love it!
Cerys says
I love the idea and your rainbow mat is so cute.