Montessori Inspired Rainbow Activities

Rainbows are a simple way introduce colors to children. The natural occurrence can inspire children to learn about rainbows, colors and the world around them. Children love to learn. Each question represents a chance to expand your child's knowledge base. As parents, introducing colors into the conversation helps your child learn a whole new vocabulary. At Montessori, instructors use rainbow activities to inspire continuous learning beyond the basic colors.

Introduction of Colors
The introduction of colors is implemented throughout the classroom. Rainbow activities are often a focus for children to learn about the basic colors. Instructors use the basic colors to discuss the world around them. For example, red is for a firetruck. The basics help younger children learn the correct vocabulary for the colors. Colorful objects are placed in different areas to inspire conversation and exploration.

• Color swatches can be placed in a basket for children to explore.
• Adding food coloring for each color of the rainbow to plastic containers filled with water and a variety of objects.
• Free play boxes representing each color may be set throughout the classroom. By examining the color matching objects, children begin to understand colors surround them every day.

The representation of colors in the classroom is done in a variety of ways. As students continue to explore the world of colors, other activities are added to continue the natural learning process.

Benefits of Rainbow Activities
Along with learning colors, younger children will in numerous other ways from rainbow inspired activities. Examples include:

Fine Motor Skills

• Large colorful beads can be put on shoe laces or placing smaller beads on matching colors of pipe cleaners will increase fine motor skills. The development of muscles in the wrist and hands will help in other future activities including handwriting skills.

Color Development

• Mixing watercolors with the use of plastic eye droppers to learn how each basic color can create new colors. The simple task of mixing colors help with creative, psychological and social development. Sharing the details of new color mixture developments with fellow students helps with critical communication skills.

Sequencing

• Placing color swatches into sequence identical to the colors of the rainbow. The sequencing activities help children with scientific inquiry skills and promote literacy.

Sensory Activities

• Sensory tubs filled with bright colored rice allow children to learn different textures through exploration. As other children join at a sensory tub, the development of social and emotional skills occurs. Children learn to share and work together to form new types of color mixtures. As the children discover, communication skills are being fine-tuned.

Critical Thinking Skills

• Large rainbow patterned squares are placed on the floor in sequence. Children are given a variety of cut-outs in the form of color foods or other objects to match the with correct square. The activity requires critical thinking skills to be correctly completed. Critical thinking skills have long term benefits. Children learn to internalize the process to match colors. The activity can inspire questions and further research about specific colors or objects.

The simplest rainbow inspired activity will benefit the child cognitively, physically, emotional and socially. Montessori instructors carefully analyze each student’s progress to help guide children to further exploration in a specific learning activity.


If you would like to learn how Montessori-inspired rainbow activities can benefit your child, feel free to contact the school for a tour. The knowledgeable instructors and staff at the Montessori Children's House will be more than happy to answer all your questions, including any about our daycare with potty training.