This rainbow paper plate craft is bright, cheerful and about as easy as it gets. Each half plate becomes a painted rainbow with a fluffy cotton ball cloud at the bottom.
It’s a favorite spring art project around here, and we like to read What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Ann Schwartz while the paint dries.
What You Need for This Paper Plate Rainbow Craft
Rainbow Paper Plate Craft (visual directions + template)
Get the printableLarge paper plates
View on AmazonRed, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple paint
View on AmazonPaintbrush
View on AmazonCotton balls
View on AmazonScrap paper
View on AmazonKid scissors
View on AmazonPencil
View on AmazonGlue or a stapler
View on AmazonSome links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
💡 Add raindrops
Cut raindrops from leftover paper, paint them blue, and hang them from the clouds with thread.
How to Make a Paper Plate Rainbow
Cut the plates in half
Each half plate makes one rainbow.
Paint the rainbow
Start with red along the outside edge and work your way in. For younger kids, draw arch lines with a pencil first so they have guides to follow.
Add a cloud strip
Once the paint is dry, glue a 2-inch strip of scrap paper across the back of the bottom edge.
Add the clouds
Glue cotton balls along the strip and trim off any extra paper.
Ways to Use It
- Hang them in a window for a pop of color
- Use it to practice color order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
- Make one for St. Patrick’s Day with a gold coin at the end
- Hang a row of rainbows on a spring bulletin board
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Paper Plate Rainbow Craft for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten
Preschool
Paint, glue and decorate. You handle the tricky cutting, and kids point to each picture step as they go.
Pre-K
Trace the template and cut the straight lines. Follow the visual steps in order.
Kindergarten and up
Cut out every piece, add their own details, and retell the steps in order.
Get the Printable Visual Directions
Doing this with a group? The printable has picture steps for every part of the rainbow, plus a template you can trace.
🎟️ Blog reader deal
Use code RAINBOWPLATE at checkout to get this craft free.
What’s included
- A picture supply list
- Visual step-by-step directions
- Photo step cards
- A printable template
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Preschool and kindergarten classrooms
- Special education and speech therapy
- Following directions practice
- Thematic units
- Homeschool art time
Paper Plate Rainbow Craft FAQ
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. For little kids, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple is plenty.
Ages 3 to 6. Preschoolers paint and glue with a little help, and kindergartners can trace and cut the pieces themselves.
Yes. Crayons, markers or torn construction paper work too and are less messy.
You can freehand the pieces, but the template and picture steps help kids work on their own and make it easy to do with a class.
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From families like yours
Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
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