Nature’s colors – rainbow nature scavenger hunt activity for outdoor learning

For a late spring or summer nature activity, this rainbow scavenger hunt is a fun way to explore color outdoors. Children will love searching for different natural objects, while experiencing the benefits of being outside together.

What is a rainbow nature scavenger hunt activity?

For this outdoor activity, children use a printed, sticky rainbow palette strip to collect different colored natural objects. They will be looking for the 7 colors of the rainbow – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Collected items could include parts of petals, leaves (both dry and fresh), grass or stems.

What are the benefits of doing a rainbow scavenger hunt activity?

This activity is simple but has lots of benefits for children:

Being outside in nature
Developing observational skills
Appreciation for the local environment
Being active
Developing an understanding of the diversity in nature and seasonal changes
Learning colors (younger children)

What you need

Rainbow strips (download here). Print on paper or card and cut one strip per child.
Double-sided tape. Stick this along the length of the strip.
An outdoor area with access to different species of plants (late spring/early summer is a good time to do this activity due to plants being in flower).

Questions to discuss at the end of the activity

Which was the easiest color to find? Why?
Which was the most difficult color to find?
How do you think the time of year/season would affect what you found?
Why are petals bright colors?

Things to consider

Health and safety: As this activity involves picking of unfamiliar plants, children should not eat or put their fingers in their mouths during this activity.
Encourage children to collect parts of plants that have already fallen, before picking from a fresh plant. They will only need a very small amount for their rainbow so advise not to take whole flowers or leaves. This is because the natural environment provides food and shelter for wildlife and we want to minimise our impact.
Remind children to hold their rainbow at the ends so the tape doesn’t lose its stickiness.
Depending on the group, you might need to remind children not to stick actual animals (especially insects) onto their strips!