Rainbow Paper Chain
A paper chain strung across a room is one of the most cheerful decorations a child can make, and the rainbow version for St. Patrick's Day has the added satisfaction of following a real color sequence: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Children practice the order, handle the paper with precision, and end with something long enough to drape across a doorway or window.
What You'll Need
- Construction paper in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple
- Scissors
- Tape or glue stick
- Ruler — optional, for consistent strip width
How to Do It
Step 1: Cut the strips. Cut paper into strips about 1 inch wide and 8 inches long. For a chain long enough to drape a window, cut 5–7 strips of each color (30–42 strips total).
Step 2: Sort by color. Lay strips in rainbow order — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Talk through the colors together. "What comes after yellow? What color is missing?"
Step 3: Form the first link. Take the red strip, curl it into a loop, and tape or glue the ends together.
Step 4: Add each link. Thread the orange strip through the red loop before closing it. Continue adding colors in rainbow sequence, linking each new loop through the previous one.
Step 5: Repeat the sequence. Once you complete one rainbow, start again with red. The chain grows longer with each repeated sequence.
Step 6: Hang the finished chain. Drape it across a window, doorway, or along a mantle for a rainbow room decoration.
Skills Your Child Will Develop
Color sequence memory — Learning rainbow order builds memory and sequencing skills.
Fine motor looping and fastening — Threading strips through loops and securing ends builds precision.
Counting and patterning — Repeating the six-color sequence is a foundational pattern activity.
Tips & Variations
- Use metallic gold paper at both ends of each rainbow sequence to represent the pot of gold.
- Make a longer chain by having the whole family work together — each person makes one color.
- Cut different widths for thick and thin links to practice measurement vocabulary.
- Count the total links at the end and practice writing that number.
My Two Cents
Pre-cut the strips before the activity — cutting and chaining are two separate fine motor tasks, and doing both in sequence exhausts younger children before they reach the satisfying part. Cut while children are napping, then chain together when they are rested.
