I’m looking out my window at wet snow falling on a cold, gray, dreary day! I’m certainly ready for spring- a spring with sunshine; flowers and trees in bloom; and warm showers with rainbows. So, here’s a free rainbow themed activity for you to brighten your teaching this spring (or anytime).

As you know, I’m always searching for ways to engage students in learning. Particularly, those students who require plenty of practice and review to master and retain skills. My students always enjoyed rolling a die and following directions to build or color a penguin, a monster, anything at all. These activities added a bit of motivation for practicing or reviewing almost any skill.

As soon as I saw this rainbow clipart, I knew it was perfect for creating an activity to roll and build or roll and color. I designed this free roll and build or roll and color resource for your students to practice or review reading one-syllable short vowel words without consonant blends or digraphs (CVC words).

Actually, you can try this activity with any set of cards you have handy for letters, numbers, words, math skills, etc.

What Will I Need For Roll-A-Rainbow

• a direction card for each small group of students participating (choice of one for building or two for coloring)
• one set of color parts (for building) or one half-page black/ white rainbow (for coloring) for each student
• one set of CVC word cards for each small group (or another set of cards you provide)
• one die for each small group
• crayons in the rainbow colors (if coloring), one set per student or group

Get It Ready

To get started, decide if you want your students to roll and build or roll and color.

The parts to build are in color only. The colors used for this are not totally accurate with regards to the actual colors of a rainbow. The parts are on one full page and one-half page. Print one of each for each student participating. Use card stock and laminate for durability. Cut.

To roll and color, print a one-half page black/ white rainbow for each student.

Select a direction card. One is in color only for building the parts of the rainbow. There are two choices for coloring, one in color and one in black/ white. There are 2 per page. You will need one per group. Print and cut in half.

Print the word cards, color or black/ gray/ white. Use card stock and laminate for durability. Trim around the background and cut.

Get ‘Em Engaged

Stack the cards or place them in an appealing container. Draw a card. Read the word. If correct, roll the die. Look at the direction card. Collect the corresponding rainbow part to build or color that part of your rainbow. If you already have that color, you lose your turn. Take turns. Who can be the first to finish their rainbow?

Before playing, decide if students lose their turn when they read a word incorrectly or simply draw another word. You can also continue reading words until everyone’s rainbow is complete.

You can download this freebie by clicking the highlighted words, Roll-A-Rainbow CVC.

Before You Go…

Would you like a set of high-frequency word cards to use with Roll-A-Rainbow? I created this set with 355 sight words, available for purchase in my TpT store. All 220 pre-primer, primer, first, second, and third-grade words from a popular list along with the remaining words from the 300 most commonly used words list are included. Click the highlighted words to check out Roll-A-Rainbow High-Frequency Words.

Are you looking for additional information and resources for reading CVC words? Read these blog posts to find information and freebies. Check out my TpT store for even more resources.