Explore the colors of the rainbow with crayons and feathers in this fun activity for toddlers and preschoolers. The creative play includes singing, bright colors and soft feathers for a hands-on experience with colors and textures.

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Rainbow crafts provide fun opportunities for kids to explore color and texture. In this art activity, feathers and crayons make a great combination for sensory and math play.

Simple activities that use basic craft supplies are the easiest to include in everyday play. 

This rainbow activity can be largely child-led. Set out the materials, allow time for kids to explore and create, then guide them in learning through play.

How many red feathers do you see?

What is your favorite color?

How does the green feather feel?

Kids will learn to recognize and name colors as you ask questions and interact with the materials. Add music to the activity to increase fun and engagement!

Feather Rainbow Activity

Are you familiar with the song, I Can Sing a Rainbow ?

It's a catchy tune that names the colors of the rainbow in the lyrics. You can find the song on YouTube.

Listen to the song together before doing this activity. Then sing along as you choose feathers for the colors of the rainbow as depicted in the lyrics of the song.

Supplies for a feather rainbow

• construction paper

• feathers
  
  
• dots

• glue

• crayons

 Instructions for feather rainbow activities

There are a few different ways to engage kids with feather activities.

1. Draw lines with crayons on a sheet of paper to represent the colors of the rainbow.

You can draw the lines beforehand for younger children, while older kids can do this step themselves.

As you sing the song, kids match a feather to the corresponding line on the paper.

You'll notice I have a pink feather added to the rainbow. Since it's named in the song I wanted it to be an option as a color choice. There have been sightings of rainbows with marvelous pink hues. The pink appears with a little help from the blending of red and violet so it's a fun bit of learning to add to the activity.

I chose to eliminate indigo from this activity.

2. Use self-adhesive dots to display the colors of the rainbow. Kids match a feather to each dot.

Older children can print the words for the colors next to the dots with a matching crayon or colored pencil.

3. Glue feathers in place to make a rainbow picture.

Start with a red feather, the first color named in the song. Glue the feather onto your paper. Continue playing the song, pausing the music after each color so you can glue the corresponding feather to the picture.

Point to each feather already glued onto the paper as you sing. 

Don't be too concerned about the order of the colors. Allow your child the freedom to explore the materials and sensory experiences.  

It's OK to be creative while enjoying the music and the sensory play, and engaging fine motor and language skills. 

Rainbow board on Pinterest

Rainbow crafts provide wonderful opportunities for kids to experience colors and textures.

It's not important to get the rainbow "right". Kids will benefit from strengthening cognitive skills as they sing, and sort and count the feathers.

Above all, kids should have fun exploring the materials and creating process art.

More from Preschool Toolkit

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Rainbow crafts from kid-friendly bloggers 

Craft sticks rainbow from Easy Peasy and Fun

Tissue paper rainbow from Happy Hooligans

Fused bead rainbow from Fireflies and Mudpies