Crafts can be more than just fun—they can be an opportunity to teach important lessons and spark meaningful conversations. This Rainbow “I Have a Dream” Craft is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech and is a wonderful way to celebrate his legacy while encouraging children to think about their own dreams and goals. It’s a creative, colorful, and impactful activity that combines art with valuable life lessons.
Why You’ll Love This Rainbow “I Have a Dream” Craft
This craft is the perfect mix of creativity and learning. Kids not only get to make a beautiful rainbow craft, but they also have the chance to express their hopes and dreams in a tangible way. It’s a great conversation starter about equality, kindness, and working toward a better future, all while engaging in a hands-on activity that’s simple to set up.
Materials You’ll Need
- White cardstock or thick paper (for the base)
- Colored construction paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
- Cotton balls
- Glue stick or school glue
- Scissors
- Markers or crayons
- A pen for writing dreams
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Create the ‘I Have A Dream’ Cloud
On the white cardstock, draw an outline of a cloud. Inside the cloud write the words: ‘I Have A Dream’ then cut it out.
- Prepare the Rainbow Strips
Take the colored construction paper and cut it into strips about 1 inch wide. Each strip represents a color of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Depending on your child’s age, let them help with the cutting for extra fine motor skill practice.
- Write Down Dreams
On each strip of paper, ask your child to write down a dream or goal they have. These can be personal aspirations like “I want to be a kind friend” or broader hopes like “I dream of a world where everyone is treated equally.” For younger children, you can write their dreams for them as they share their ideas.
- Create the Rainbow Base
On the back of the white cloud, apply doublesided tape. Starting with purple, stick each strip in order, overlapping slightly to create a smooth, colorful rainbow.
- Add the Clouds (optional)
Take the cotton balls and stretch them slightly to make fluffy clouds. Glue them to around the cloud.
- Display the Craft
Hang the rainbow craft in a place where it can inspire your child daily. Whether it’s on the fridge, a bulletin board, or in their room, it serves as a constant reminder of their dreams and the importance of hope.
Tips for Success
- Keep the Conversation Going: Use this craft as an opportunity to discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech and the importance of kindness, inclusion, and dreaming big.
- Adapt for Different Ages: For younger children, focus on simple dreams like “I want to share my toys” or “I want to learn how to read.” Older kids can dive into more complex aspirations like making a difference in their community.
- Add Extra Details: If time allows, include additional decorations like glitter on the clouds or a golden sun above the rainbow for an extra-special touch.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
