International Colour Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with International Colour Day. For official information and themes, please visit the International Colour Association (AIC) website: www.aic-colour.org.

Saturday 21st March 2026

Understanding International Colour Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's look around and celebrate all the wonderful colours in our world! 🌈🎨 International Colour Day is celebrated every year on March 21st. This special date was chosen by a group called the International Colour Association (AIC) because it's when day and night are almost the same length, showing how light and dark are balanced, and how colour is everywhere for everyone. This day wants to show us how important colour is in our everyday lives – you can see it in art, in science, all around us in nature, and in different cultures around the world. It also wants to help us understand more about how colours make us feel and how they affect us.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a vibrant and engaging theme for exploring sensory awareness, creativity, understanding the world (science and art), mathematical concepts (sorting, patterns), and personal, social & emotional development (PSED) through expression. It's about encouraging children to observe, identify, and play with colours, fostering their curiosity and artistic development. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about colour both exciting and foundational.

Why Is Learning About Colour Important for Young Children?

Integrating International Colour Day and lessons about colour into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) stimulates cognitive development, encourages creativity, and helps them make sense of the world around them.

• Cognitive Development: Helps children develop observational skills, classification, and sequencing through sorting and pattern activities.

• Language & Communication: Provides vocabulary for describing objects and expressing preferences.

• Creativity & Self-Expression: Encourages artistic exploration and allows children to communicate feelings and ideas non-verbally.

• Sensory Exploration: Engages multiple senses (sight, touch) through varied colour activities.

• Mathematical Concepts: Introduces early concepts of sets, attributes, and patterns.

• Understanding the World: Helps children recognise colours in nature, art, and everyday objects, enhancing their perception.

Engaging Colour Activities for International Colour Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Let's dive into a rainbow of learning for International Colour Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on exploring, identifying, mixing, and celebrating all the colours around us! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Colours' resources, as well as broader 'Art & Craft' and 'Mark Making' themed materials.

Here's some inspiration for making this day a colourful celebration in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Colour Exploration & Recognition:

  • Introduce basic colours using 'Colour Mats/Posters'.

  • Have children sort objects by colour using 'Colour Sorting Activity/Game'.

  • Play a game of 'Colour Match Game' or 'Colour Snap Cards'.

  • Use 'Colour Fans' for a fun way to identify and switch between colours.

• Colour Hunts & Walks:

  • Go on a 'Colour Walk Checklist' around your setting or outdoor area, looking for different colours. Use 'Colour Walk Tally' to record findings.

  • Encourage children to use 'Find and Draw - Fabric', 'Find and Draw - Metal', 'Find and Draw - Paper/Card', 'Find and Draw - Plastic', and 'Find and Draw - Wood' (from our Recycling resources, but useful for finding colours in materials) to spot colours in everyday items.

• Colour Mixing Experiments:

  • Explore how colours combine using 'Colour Mixing Experiment Sheets/Display'. Provide primary coloured paints or food colouring in water for children to mix and discover secondary colours.

• Creative Colour Challenges:

  • Engage children in an 'Colour Activity Challenge'.

  • Use 'Construction - Building Block Pattern/Colour Challenge Cards' to create colourful patterns.

  • Let children be creative with 'Dinosaur Activity/Movement Challenge - Cartoon' (if applicable to a colour theme, e.g., drawing colourful dinosaurs).

  • Explore colour in natural phenomena with 'Firework Colour Checklists’ and 'Firework Explosion - Size Ordering Cards’.

• Self-Expression with Colour:

  • Create a class 'Our Favourite Colours' Pictogram Chart' to see which colours are most popular.

  • Use 'Colours' Themed Certificates' and 'Colours' Themed Reward Charts' to celebrate colourful achievements and good behaviour.

  • Brighten up your setting with 'Colours' Themed Self Registration Display', 'Colour Balloon' Themed Group Charts', and 'Colour Balloon' Themed Nursery Room Group Charts'.

• Connecting to Everyday Objects:

  • Use 'Sunglasses 2-Piece Puzzles' and 'Sunglasses Colour Match Cards' to reinforce colour recognition through familiar items.

• Explore More: To browse our collection of ‘Colour Activities for EYFS & KS1 Children’, please visit our dedicated ‘Colours’ page. You may also like to explore additional pages covering relevant and/or connected themes such as ‘Colouring’, ‘Art & Craft’, ‘Mark Making, Drawing & Writing’, ‘Design Your Own’, ‘Recording: Maths Mark Making’, and ‘Outdoor Area: Mark Making’.

These activities offer great inspiration for making International Colour Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering sensory awareness, creativity, observational skills, and a joyful appreciation for the vibrant world of colour.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Colour Day’

To browse more of our ‘Colour Activities for EYFS & KS1 Children’, please visit our dedicated ‘Colours’ page.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

Colouring EYFS & KS1 Activities

Art & Craft EYFS & KS1 Activities

Mark Making, Drawing & Writing EYFS & KS1 Activities

Design Your Own EYFS & KS1 Activities

Recording: Maths Mark Making EYFS & KS1 Activities

Outdoor Area: Mark Making EYFS & KS1 Activities

More Early Years Event Pages for March

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…

Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'International Colour Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the International Colour Association (AIC), which established this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and to learn more about the significance of colour, please visit the International Colour Association (AIC) website: www.aic-colour.org.