Story Time: A Rainbow of My Own

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman is the story of a child who sees a rainbow from his window and runs off in his raincoat and boots to catch it. When the rainbow unexpectedly disappears, the boy imagines what it would be like to have a rainbow as a playmate. As the sun comes out, the boy returns home to an unexpected surprise caused by sunlight shining through the water in his goldfish’s bowl. This story is told with simple sentences in child-friendly language. It is a great choice for starting a conversation about the science of rainbows that begins to answer questions such as “What causes rainbows?” and “Where do they go?” Here, we share a few ideas for discussion and reflection before reading, during reading, and after reading.

Book: A Rainbow of My Own

A Rainbow of My Own Story Time

Kindergarten Common Core Standards

Literature: Key Ideas and Details
RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text

Literature: Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
RL.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding

Before Reading:

Read the title of the book. Ask:

• What do you think this story will be about? (Take several predictions.)
• Have you ever seen a rainbow? When? What did you do? (Take several responses.)
• Who can tell me what a rainbow is? (Take several responses.)

Explain that light is made up of many different colors of light all mixed together. When light passes through a clear material at a certain angle or slant (position hand and arm to show what an angle/slant looks like), the colors separate into rows and can be seen. A rainbow happens when light travels through raindrops at certain angles. When the light passes through the water, the colors are reflected in a band across the sky. Rainbows can’t be held because they are not a solid substance like a table or a flower. When the light producing a rainbow is blocked by clouds, the rainbow will quickly disappear.

During Reading:

As you read, have children respond to questions. Here are a few to ask:

• What does the boy want to do? (Catch a rainbow.)
• Do you think the boy will catch a rainbow? Why or why not?
• What does the boy do before he goes outside? (Puts on his raincoat, hat, and boots.)
• How does the boy run? (fast as the wind)
• How does the boy imagine a rainbow will sound? (like the whirring wings of a bird)
• What games does the boy imagine he will play with his rainbow? (leapfrog, hide-n-go-seek)
• Where does the boy think a rainbow might hide? (in a flower garden)
• Where did the rainbow on the boy’s wall come from? (sunlight reflecting through water in his goldfish’s bowl)

After Reading:

Explain that the story is made up of both real events that happen to the main character and pretend events that the main character imagines. Divide a sheet of chart paper into two columns and label the columns with the words “Real” and “Pretend.” Go through the story again, looking at the illustrations, and have children decide which events really take place in the main character’s life and which events he makes up in his imagination.

Let children share how they would play with a rainbow if it were possible. Ask:

• What game would you play with a rainbow?
• What else would you want to do with a rainbow if you had the chance?

Follow up with a movement activity to shake out those sitting muscles.

A Rainbow of My Own

Hand out a rainbow printable to each child and let them color it and cut out.

Free Rainbow printable

Preschool Activities: 

Media Root

Preschool Activities: 

Media Root

Movement Activity

Let children stretch their arms to the sides so they don't touch anybody. Then, have them sit on the floor with their rainbows.

Recite the following instructions and let children copy the placement of the rainbow.

Preschool Activities: 

Media Root

Look and See
by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup, Inc.

Look and see my rainbow behind me. (Place rainbow behind you.)

Look and see my rainbow in front of me. (Place rainbow in front of you.)

Look and see my rainbow beside me. (Place rainbow to the side of you.)

Look and see my rainbow above me. (Hold rainbow over your head.)

Look and see my rainbow under me. (Sit on rainbow.)

Look my rainbow wants to play. (Dance rainbow around.)

Please little rainbow, don't go away. (Place rainbow on your lap.)

A Rainbow of My Own Activities and Folder Games available inside our KidsSoup Resource Library

Preschool Activities: 

Media Root

Wearing the Colors of the Rainbow Movement and Song Activity

“If You Are Wearing _____”

(Original Author Unknown)

(Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you are wearing red, shake your head,
If you are wearing red, shake your head,
If you are wearing red, won’t you please shake your head,
If you are wearing red, shake your head.

Repeat verse with the remaining rainbow colors and rhymes:

Orange: shout out “orange” (put arm up and fist in the air)
Blue: touch your shoe
Yellow: shake like Jell-O
Green: bow like a queen
Purple: turn in a circle

View more weather preschool and kindergarten activities, crafts, and games

Preschool Activities: 

Media Root

KidsSoup Resource Library