Rainbows

Radiant Rainbows

Do you remember seeing a rainbow?
It is always such a treat to see colours splashed across the sky.
Rainbows of colours can be found in more places than the sky. Have you eaten a salad that looked like a rainbow?
Let's see how many rainbows we can pack into this months projects.

Rainbow Class

We recommend dressing like a rainbow for this months projects, if you don't have a rainbow outfit, wear a different colour on each day.

I think rainbows are so joyful to see. They make me feel so happy to see them.
This month we look into rainbows of light, rainbow food, rainbow craft and rainbow community.
Be on the look out for rainbows. You might see them in the sky, in your food, people wearing them, birds with rainbow feathers. Once we start looking for them I see them everywhere!

Rainbow Dance

Rainbow Song

Fun Rainbow Facts

Rainbows seem so magical in the sky. Like a faerie has painted from the clouds to the ground as a wonderful slide. The truth is, there's so many things we know about rainbows, and we're going to learn all about them- yay!
Here's some amazing facts about rainbows:

Everyone sees a different rainbow. Because we all stand at slightly different angles and heights, rainbows look slightly different wherever we are.
Rainbows have seven colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet
A rainbow is a full circle of light. Because most people see a rainbow on the ground we only see an arc of the rainbow
A rainbow can't be touched.

The Magic of Rainbows

Rainbow story

Have you ever wondered why some birds are as bright as rainbows and others are grey and brown? This is a classic folktale from South America to explain why.

Leprechauns
One of the most famous rainbow stories is the leprechauns of Ireland who are said to keep their pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. As rainbows can't be touched, the gold has always been a mystery that is always just out of reach. Some folk stories tell of farmers capturing leprechauns to claim their treasure. However, trickster leprechauns always outsmart people and get away without giving up a single coin.
Viking legends
In Norse mythology, Bifröst is a rainbow bridge between the land of mortals, Midgard, and the land of the gods, Asgard.
Hawaiian Rainbow Goddess
Kahalaopuna was born of the divine wind and rain of Manoa Valley. The valley has been regarded as the royal palace of rainbows where the beautiful rainbow maiden can be seen playing wherever the light of sun or moon touches the misty rain. Natives of the valley often called Kahalapuna by the name of Kaikawahine Anuenue; the Rainbow Maiden.

How are rainbows made

A rainbow is an arc of colour in the sky that can be seen when the sun shines through falling rain.

A rainbow is created when white light is bent (refracted) while passing through water. The white light is then seen as seven different colours. Water can be in the sky from rain, mist or fog.

A rainbow is actually round like a circle.

different types of rainbows

Moonbow at Victoria Falls

Photographed by Ian Griffin at Mt John Observatory

More than just a Rainbow

There are different types of rainbows that you can see.

You can get a Moonbow from moon light coming through rain, mist or fog
Sometimes people see more than one rainbow in the sky. You can get a double rainbow and on rare occasions a triple and a quadruple rainbow.
Ever seen a fogbow? Sometimes called white rainbows, cloudbows or ghost rainbows. Fogbows are like rainbows, only they appear in fog rather than rain. Because the water droplets in fog are so small, fogbows have little or no colour.
Rainbows are seen in mist. If you are near a waterfall on a sunny day look out for a rainbow.
Rainbows are more than we see, they are a full circle. From the ground you only see a part of the rainbow. Some aerial photographers have captured the full circle of a rainbow.

The full circle of a rainbow captured by Colin Leonhardt

how to make rainbow light

Make a rainbow in the garden

You can make a rainbow in your garden.
All you need is water and sunshine.
1) Choose a sunny day
2) Put your hose on spray setting
3) Stand with your back to the sun and spray water up high

Make a Rainbow with a glass of water

Sun Crystals
You might come across a sun catcher crystal. These are best hung near a window that gets plenty of light through. They then reflect rainbow light into your home.

What You Need:

A glass of water
A sheet of white paper
A sunny day or a torch

Instructions:

Fill the glass with water.
If you are using sunlight lift the glass so that the sun shines directly through the water.
Move the paper and the glass until a rainbow forms on the paper.
If you are using a torch, place the glass of water on the white piece of paper, and move the torch around until you see a rainbow on the piece of paper

Investigate

The perfect rainbow spotting days are when it is raining with patches of blue skies. Next time this happens take a walk outside to see if you can spot a rainbow. Can you see all the colours?

Activity time

12 RAINBOW art and craft activities

Rainbow Chalk Drawing
Share colours with your neighbours by using rainbows colours of your driveway and footpaths.
Create games of leapfrogs and hopscotch.

Rainbow Rock Art
Using paint pens or paint to create rock art . Keep them or hide them in the community for a lucky person to find.

Salt Dough Leaves
1) roll out salt dough
2) Press leaves with veins into the salt dough then cut around them
3) Paint your leaves with rainbow colours

Watercolour art
Use watercolours to create a rainbow picture. Watercolours blend beautifully together but you can use any colour you wish.

Mini Rainbow
Wrap white yarn with colourful threads leaving white thread loose on each side. Create 4-7 different colours. Sew them together then comb out the white thread.

Rainbow Tie Dye
Using store bought or home made dyes.
Check out this intructable guide on how to create a rainbow pattern for your shirts.

Rainbow Plate Weave
Cut a paper plate in half. Paint a blue sky and clouds. Cut small slots in even parts. Weave the loom from the bottom centre to the outer edge. Then weave rainbow thread starting from the centre.

CD Weave
Upcycle idea for old CD's. Tie yarn from the centre hole to the outside edge in even parts. Weave rainbow colours around, starting from the centre. Add beads to decorate.

Rainbow Sun Catcher
Using tissue paper, scissors, glue and construction paper. Create a frame. You can make a butterfly, faerie or a flower. Use the tissue paper to fill in the gaps then attach to a window where light streams through.

Tissue paper flowers
These simple flowers have been a favourite of ours for years. Check out the video below to see how to make them. Great craft fun for leftover wrapping paper.

Natural dyes
Using common foods and food waste to make natural dyes. Experiment with colouring cloth, egg shells and paper.

Rainbow Pallet garden
Using a recycled pallet, paint, pots, pot supports and screws. Make yourself a colourful garden wall that's perfect for brightening up small garden areas.

How to make a paper flower

How to make a spinner by Kidspot

Investigate

Nature detective time: Take a walk in nature to see if you can find things in different colours. You can make a colour chart or you can download the one attached.

colour_scavenger_hunt.pdf
File Size:	80 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Activity

Make a rainbow with colourful leaves or flowers that you find.

Rainbow Diet

What is a rainbow diet?

A rainbow diet is when you eat all the colours of the rainbow. We're not talking food dyes, we mean the real stuff grown in nature. Eating fruits and veggies in a variety of colours gives you the largest range of nutrients. That means you get more energy and have a better immune system to fight against colds- plus they taste great too!

Rainbow Recipes

Rainbow Pizza

Do you love pizza?
Throw in some rainbow into your slice! Use your favourite base, then cheese (dairy or vegan) then throw on a rainbow of colour. Some veggies might need to be pre-cooked before they go on the pizza.

Fruit and edible flower ice cubes

Add a colourful flair and a hint of flavour to your drink by making fruit and edible flower ice cubes. These are a hit at any party, especially a faerie tea party!

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Birthday parties always means colourful food. These rainbow skewers are a popular addition to the faerie parties we've been visiting lately- and we can see why!

Grilled Rainbow Skewers

Vegetables go great on skewers too. Throw together your favourite rainbow vegetable ensemble then cook them on the grill for a smoky flavour. You can add some salt and herb seasoning too!

Rainbow Smoothie

Rainbow smoothies are a warm day treat. Here we've shown a rainbow of fruits you could use. Using a steady hand and a spoon you can layer these into a large smoothie cup. Another colourful addition for a faerie garden party.

Rainbow Wrap

Rainbows for school are a fun way to flair up a lunch box. Use colourful veggie sticks, green leaves and your favourite spread (we love hummus) then wrap them up in a tortilla wrap. Yummo!

Rainbow Community

Rainbow Flag

The rainbow flag is used for a variety of reasons around the world. Most commonly it is used as a pride flag to represent different lifestyles, family structures and as a symbol of inclusiveness.

In 2013 Eco Faeries travelled with WASAMBA to perform at the Sydney Mardi Gras in a stand for equal rights. We presented a banner with messages of equality to Canberra then headed to Victoria to parade at Daylesford Pride Day and then on to shows in Melbourne.

Why are some animals so colourful?

Animals use colours and patterns to communicate. There are many reason for animals to use colours

Colours can be used to find the perfect mate.
Colours are used to show how the animals is feeling. It may show if they are healthy or sick, or if they are at a time when they are looking for a mate or feeding their young.
Animals also use colours as a warning signal.
Colours can be used to camouflage and hide from predators.

The rainbow lorikeet is a species of parrot found in Australia from northern Queensland to South Australia. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas. It is a declared pest species in Western Australia.

Investigate

Take a walk in nature and look for animals with colours and patterns. Why do they have those colours.
Are they using colours and patterns to camouflage?
Are they using colours to find a mate?
Do they look healthy or sick?

Goodbye Rainbows.... Hello Trees

What a bright month we've shared together looking at all the colours of the rainbow.

Next month we are taking a walk through the forest. Thats right, one of our favourite topics- trees!