Theme days / Rainbow Day

Rainbow Day ideas for OSHC

34 DIY activities for a rainbow day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around March (Holi) or Easter (March/April). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Rainbow Day

Craft Day · Rainbow Day · Summer Holidays +1

Bead Suncatchers

Children thread translucent beads onto wire to make suncatchers that glow in the window.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Budding Artists · Bubbles Day · Art Attack Day +1

Blown Bubble Painting

Children blow coloured bubbles onto paper to create soft, round patterns, a gentle process art experience.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Graffiti and Street Art · Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day +3

Chalk Street Art

Children work together on large chalk murals across the playground, turning the ground into a giant canvas.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Tie Dye Day · Rainbow Day · Bug Day +1

Coffee Filter Butterflies

Children fold coffee filters and dip them in coloured water to create tie-dye patterns, then pinch them into butterflies with pipe cleaners.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3 Holi · Rainbow Day · Science Day +2

Colour Mixing Science

Children predict and test what new colours appear when primary colours are mixed.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3 Colour Fun Run · Holi · Rainbow Day +2

Colour Powder Fun Run

Children run a short course while educators dust them with coloured cornflour, ending in a rainbow finish.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Colour Fun Run · Holi · Rainbow Day +2

Colour Station Relay

Teams race through colour stations, collecting dye on their shirts as they complete relay legs.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Magic Day · Science Day · Milk Day +3

Colour-Swirling Milk Magic

Children add drops of food colouring to milk, then touch it with soapy cotton buds and watch the colours burst and swirl like magic.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Bubbles Day · Budding Artists · Art Attack Day +2

Coloured Bubble Prints

Children blow coloured bubbles and press paper onto them to capture bubbly prints, combining science and art.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Sensory Day · Messy Play Day · Rainbow Day

Coloured Salt and Rice Trays

Younger children help dye salt and rice with food colouring, then use the colourful mixtures for drawing trays and small world play.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3 Easter · Craft Day · Rainbow Day

Coloured Sand Art Eggs

Children peel back sections of sticky egg stencils and sprinkle coloured sand to make bright patterned eggs.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Crazy Hair Day · Circus Day · Rainbow Day +1

Crazy Hair Face Painting

Educators paint simple, bright face designs that match children's crazy hairstyles, adding to the fun of the day.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6 Colour Fun Run · Holi · Science Week +2

DIY Colour Powder

Children mix cornflour with food colouring and water to make their own colour powder for a fun run.

OutdoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6 All About Australia Day · Birthday for Everyone Day · Cooking Day +2

Fairy Bread Making

Children butter bread and shake on colourful sprinkles to make a classic Australian party treat, practising simple food preparation skills.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Music Festival Day · Spring Fair · Market Day +1

Festival Face Painting

Children have their faces painted with festival designs, and older children can take turns as face painters.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6 Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day · Graffiti and Street Art +2

Giant Chalk Murals

Children work together to create large chalk artworks across the playground, transforming the space with colour.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Holi · Colour Fun Run · Culture Celebration Day +2

Holi Colour Throw

Children gently toss coloured cornflour outdoors, inspired by the festival of colours, then talk about how Holi is celebrated.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Holi · Rainbow Day · Culture Celebration Day +1

Holi Handprint Banner

Children create a bright group banner with colourful handprints to celebrate the festival of colours.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Halloween · Science Day · Science Week +3

Lolly Colour Chromatography

Children separate the hidden dyes in coloured lollies using filter paper and water, discovering the colours inside.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6 Rainbow Day · Messy Play Day · Art Attack Day +2

Messy Rainbow Painting

Younger children mix colours on large paper with hands and sponges. Big sensory art outdoors.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 3 Neon Day · Glow Party · Disco Day +2

Neon Dress-Up Day

Children wear their brightest neon clothes and accessories, then show them off in a neon parade.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Cooking Day · Rainbow Day · Birthday for Everyone Day +1

Rainbow Cupcakes

Children make layered rainbow cupcakes with coloured batter and decorate them.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6 Rainbow Day · Fruit and Veggie Day · Cooking Day +1

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Children thread fruit onto skewers in rainbow order. A healthy and colourful snack.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6 St Patrick's Day · Rainbow Day · Treasure Hunters Day +1

Rainbow Gold Hunt

Children follow rainbow clues to find hidden gold coins at the end of each rainbow.

EitherModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6 Diwali · Chalk Festival · Culture Celebration Day +1

Rangoli Patterns

Children create bright, symmetrical floor patterns with coloured rice or chalk, inspired by Diwali rangoli designs.

EitherCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6 Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Messy Play Day +1

Rolling Marble Painting

Younger children roll paint-coated marbles around a tray lined with paper to create colourful, unpredictable patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3 Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Rainbow Day +2

Salad Spinner Spin Art

Children drop paint onto paper circles inside a salad spinner and spin it to create swirling, colourful patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Tie Dye Day · Rainbow Day · Fashion Design Day +2

Spiral Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Children twist, bind and dye white shirts into bright spiral patterns, learning a classic textile technique they can wear home.

OutdoorModerateBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Tie Dye Day · Crazy Sock Day · Rainbow Day +1

Spray Tie-Dye Socks and Totes

Children colour socks or tote bags with fabric markers, then mist them with spray bottles so the colours bleed and blend into tie-dye patterns.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Science Week · Rainbow Day · Science Day +1

Walking Rainbow

Children watch coloured water climb up paper towel bridges between cups and mix into new colours over time.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Rainbow Day · Science Week · After School Quick STEM +1

Walking Water Rainbow

Children watch coloured water travel along paper towels between cups and mix into new colours. Simple science with wow factor.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Rainbow Day · Mismatch Day · Harmony Day +1

Wear the Rainbow Day

Children wear as many colours as they can and celebrate a colourful day. Simple, inclusive dress-up.

EitherModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Reconciliation Week · NAIDOC Week · Rainbow Day

Yellow Dress-Up Learning Day

Children wear yellow for the day and take part in short, age-appropriate learning about First Nations history, with an optional gold coin donation to a First Nations-led organisation.

EitherModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6 R U OK Day · Kindness Day · Rainbow Day +2

Yellow Kindness Day

Children wear yellow and complete acts of kindness throughout the day. A whole-group focus on checking in and caring.

EitherModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6