Rain -- Preschool & Kindergarten
Rain
Fingerplays/Songs
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
Rain
Pitter Pat, pitter pat (drum fingers on floor), the rain goes on for hours.
And though it keeps me in the house, it's very (hold hands palms up and closed into fists in front of you) good
for (open fists) flowers (lift hands imitating flowers growing up).
Little Raindrop
This is the sun, high up in the sky,
(Hold hands in circle above head)
A dark cloud suddenly comes sailing by.
(Slide hands to side)
These are the raindrops.
(Make raining motion with fingers)
Pitter patter down.
Watering the flowers,
(Pouring motion)
Growing on the ground.
(Hands pat the ground)
It Rained
It rained on Bill,
It rained on Will,
It rained on Isabella,
But it didn't rain on ________,
He/She had a huge umbrella.
Video
Art
Eyedropper Painting
Color water with food coloring. Place the water in shallow containers. Children use eyedroppers to drop the colored water onto their white construction paper.
Learning Centers
Thunder Painting
Art Area
Provide grey, black, and white paint at the easel. Tape record a rain or thunderstorm. Leave this tape with a tape recorder (and earphones) at the easel. Let the children listen to the rainstorm and paint to it.
Dramatic Play Area
Rainy Day Clothing
Add rain coats, hats, rain shoes, and a tape containing rain sounds to the dramatic play area.
Weather Station
Create a weather station by adding to the dramatic play area a map, pointer, adult clothing and pretend microphone.
Sensory Table
Add to the sensory table:
Water with scoops, cups, and spoons.
Sand and water (make puddles in the sand).
Rainbow-Colored salt, rice, and pasta.
Rainbow Chickpeas Dyeing with food coloring
Video
Math
Rainbow Match
Fabrics of all the colors of the rainbow can be cut into pieces. The children can sort these and group them into different colors, textures, and sizes.
Science
Making Rain
Boil some water in a pot (or a tea kettle) until steam forms above it. Then fill a pie pan with ice cubes and hold it above the pot in the steam "cloud." Have the children observe that when the steam comes in contact with the cool air from the pie pan, drops of water form and fall back into the pot like rain.
Caution: Supervise children closely.
Tasting Water
Collect tap water, soda water, mineral water, and distilled water. Pour the different types of water into paper cups and let children taste them. Discuss the differences.
Evaporation
Have children pour water into a jar. Mark a line at the water level. Place the jar on a window ledge and check it every day. The disappearance is called evaporation.
Group Time
Read the poem "Rain" to the children. Ask the children, "Why didn't I get wet?"
Rain
Rain on green grass
and rain on the tree.
Rain on the rooftop,
But not on me!
Recommended Book
Who Is Tapping at My Window?
by A. G. Deming
Rain
Need: Optional: pair of sticks (wood dowelling)
Read the book "Who is tapping at my window?" by Alhambra G.Deming. Children can tap hands on knees or use sticks while repeating the line, 'Who is tapping at my window?' after you. Also works great as a feltboard story, or with stuffed animals/puppets and act out the story with the group. Children love the rhyme and repetition of this story and solving the mystery at the end! Contributed By: Linda McDade
Things to Do
Match the Umbrellas - Alphabet cards.
Water Sourcebooks (K-12) Lesson plans from the EPA.
