Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Colour in Rainbow & Names
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Colour in Rainbow & Names is a free printable activity where children colour in their own rainbow and learn the names of its colours. They also practise spelling those names. It needs only pencils, crayons or felt tips, and it suits young children who are learning colour words.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company. Print both pages. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well, because the colour comes from your child.
What is on the sheet
Children colour in a rainbow of their own and learn the names of its colours. They also practise spelling those names. Because they choose which pencil or crayon to use, they have to think about what each colour is called. There is no rush and no right speed. The sheet mixes quiet colouring with early spelling, so it works as a calm activity at home or in class.
What your child practises
Colour names
Children link each colour they use with its name. Saying the name aloud as they colour helps the word stick.
Spelling
Writing a colour word letter by letter builds early spelling. Colour words are short and common, so they are useful to know.
Pencil control
Colouring in keeps the pencil inside the lines. It builds the hand strength and control children need for handwriting.
Careful looking
Children look closely at the colours they choose and notice which ones are similar and which are very different.
Why a rainbow?
A rainbow is something most children have seen or heard about. It appears when sunlight shines through raindrops in the air. The drops bend the light and split it into its different colours. That is why rainbows tend to appear when it is sunny and showery at the same time. Children often feel excited to spot one, which makes it a good starting point for learning.
Colour words are some of the first words children learn to read and write. A rainbow puts many colour words in one picture, so each name has something to attach to. Children see the colour, say the word and then write it. Using sight, speech and handwriting together helps children remember a spelling better than copying alone.
Fun rainbow facts
- A rainbow appears when sunlight passes through raindrops.
- Sunlight looks plain, but it is really a mix of many colours.
- To see a rainbow, the sun is usually behind you and the rain is in front of you.
- Sometimes a second, fainter rainbow appears above the first one. This is called a double rainbow.
- A rainbow is really a circle. From the ground we usually only see part of it, which looks like an arch.
Skills and curriculum link
- Colour recognition
- Colour word spelling
- Pencil control
- Vocabulary
- Following instructions
- Concentration
Ways to help with spelling
- Say it slowlySay each colour word slowly and listen for each sound. Then match the sounds to letters. This works well for words that sound the way they look.
- Look, cover, write, checkLook at the word, cover it, write it from memory, then uncover it and check. Repeat any letters that were wrong.
- Spot the tricky partMany words have one letter or pair of letters that surprises children. Find it together and circle it in a bright pencil.
- Colour as you saySay the name of each colour as you pick up the pencil. Linking the word to the colour helps children remember it.
Key words
- RainbowA curved band of colours that appears in the sky when sunlight shines through rain.
- ColourHow something looks to our eyes, such as the colour of a leaf or a pencil.
- ArcA curved line that is part of a circle. A rainbow is shaped like an arc.
- ShadeA lighter or darker version of a colour.
- SpellTo write or say the letters of a word in the right order.
- LightWhat lets us see. Sunlight looks plain but contains many colours.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
- Read the introduction on the sheet together. Ask your child what they already know about rainbows.
- Let your child choose their pencils or crayons. Ask them to say the name of each colour as they use it.
- Help your child say and spell each colour name. Praise careful letters and neat colouring, not speed.
- Display the finished rainbow. Later, ask your child to spell a colour name from memory without looking.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Work on one colour at a time. Colour that part first, say its name, then spell it together, one letter at a time. Take a break between colours. If handwriting is tiring, write the first letter and let a grown up add the rest.
To stretch confident children
Write a short sentence about each colour, such as something in nature that is that colour. Or make up a way to remember the order of the colours once you know it. Then try spelling every colour name without looking.
Make it a game
Hide the finished rainbow. A grown up says a colour name, and the child writes it and colours a square to match. Swap roles so the child can say a word for the grown up to spell. Check each spelling together.
Talk about it
- Where have you seen a rainbow? What was the weather like?
- Which colour do you like best, and why?
- Which colour name was the hardest to spell? Which part was tricky?
- What things around us are the same colour as the ones in your rainbow?
- What would a rainbow look like if you chose your own colours?
- Can you think of a word that rhymes with one of the colour names?
Take it off the page
Rainbow hunt
Go on a walk or look around the house. Find one object for each colour in your rainbow and say its name. Take turns to spot the next one.
Chalk rainbow
Draw a large rainbow on the pavement or playground with chalk. Write each colour name next to its band. Rain will wash it away.
Sunny window rainbow
On a bright day, place a glass of water on a sunny windowsill. Look for coloured light on a nearby wall or table, and talk about what you see.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first colour, then let them lead. Say each colour name aloud as they colour. Keep it relaxed. If they tire, stop and come back later. The finished rainbow looks good on a bedroom wall or the fridge.
Teachers
Use it as a quiet colouring task, a spelling starter, or a link to a topic on weather or light. It needs little preparation and works for independent time. Page 2 has notes, help ideas and a stretch task for those who finish early.
Home educators
Use it as part of a gentle morning routine or a rainy day activity. Combine it with a rainbow hunt outdoors, or read a story about rainbows first. Keep the finished sheet in a folder to show progress with colour words and handwriting.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children learn to recognise and name colours in everyday life and begin to hold a pencil with control. Sorting objects by colour and talking about what they see are good early steps.
After it, children can use colour words in sentences and begin to describe things in more detail. Later in primary school, science lessons look at light and how we see colour. This sheet is a friendly first step towards that.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Is Colour in Rainbow & Names free?
Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. Print as many copies as you need for home or the classroom. You only need a printer, some paper and colouring pencils, crayons or felt tips.
- How long does it take to complete?
There is no set time. Children can go at their own pace and stop whenever they like. Some will enjoy careful colouring and finish in one sitting. Others may prefer to come back to it later.
- What do we need to do the activity?
You need a printer, paper and something to colour with. Pencils, crayons and felt tips all work. A pencil is useful for any writing. Black and white printing is fine, because children add the colour themselves.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It contains notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea. Keep it to yourself or share it with a teaching assistant.
- My child finds spelling hard. What can I do?
Go slowly and work on one colour word at a time. Say it aloud, look at the letters, then cover it and write it from memory. Short, relaxed practice works better than a long session.
- Can I use this in the classroom?
Yes. It works as a quiet task, a spelling starter, or a link to a topic on weather or light. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Children can work alone or in pairs and compare their rainbows.
- Why do children colour their own rainbow?
Colouring makes children look closely at each colour and say its name. It also builds pencil control, which supports handwriting. Doing something hands on makes colour words easier to remember than reading them alone.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.