Rainbow
Preschool · 3–5A cheerful rainbow arching between two fluffy clouds is one of the most joyful coloring pages for preschoolers — and a perfect chance to learn the order of colors. Each band is its own area, so children can practice red, orange, yellow, and green in sequence, or make their own colorful sky. Coloring it opens up a natural chat about rain and sun, weather, and where rainbows come from. The clear bands and soft clouds are easy to fill and stay forgiving for growing hands. Print the crisp PDF in A4 or US Letter, or color it online with tap-to-fill and gentle color hints. A lovely fit for a weather theme, a colors lesson, or a bright, happy afternoon of coloring at home or in the classroom.
Six bands, in order
A rainbow is the one page on the site where the colours are not a choice — they come in a fixed order, and getting them right is the whole activity. That makes it unusual and unusually valuable: most colouring is about free choice, and this is about following a sequence correctly.
Red on the outside, then orange, yellow, green, blue and violet moving inwards. Working from the outer arc in, one band at a time, is also good practice at not skipping ahead.
Where rainbows come from
Sunlight looks white but is actually every colour mixed together, and raindrops split it back apart. You can do the same thing with a garden hose on a sunny day with the sun behind you, or with a glass of water on a windowsill. Seeing a real one appear because of something they did is worth a great deal more than the explanation.
Frequently asked questions
- What order do rainbow colours go in?
- Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet — red always on the outside of the arc. Getting the order right is the point of this page, unlike almost every other one here.
- How can I show my child a real rainbow?
- A garden hose on a sunny day, standing with the sun behind you and spraying a fine mist. It works reliably and children never tire of it.