Storytime: What's the Weather?

Our state participates in the Collaborative Summer Library Program, and this year's theme is Fizz, Boom, READ!  For my weekly storytimes, I've planned a a science-based theme each week.  This week was about weather.

BOOKS:



It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand

RHYMES & SONGS:

Rain is Falling Down

Rain is falling down, splash!
Rain is falling down, splash!
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter.
Rain is falling down, splash!
Sun is peaking out, peak-a-boo!
Sun is peaking out, peak-a-boo!
Peaking here, peaking there.
Sun is peaking out, peak-a-boo!
(Source: King County Library System)

Noisy Wind
(tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

I like the noisy wind,
I like the noisy wind.
It roars and mutters,
(voice loud and then soft)
And shakes and shutters,
(use shaker eggs)
I like the noisy wind.
I like the noisy wind,
I like the noisy wind.
It flaps the flag,
(use scarves and flap your arms around)
And rustles my bag,
I like the noisy wind.
(Source: Preschool Education)

Five Umbrellas
(I used this as a flannel rhyme)

Five umbrellas stood by the back door.
The red one went outside, and then there were four.
Four umbrellas stood pretty as can be,
The blue one went outside, and then there were three.
Three umbrellas with nothing to do,
The green one went outside, and then there were two.
Two umbrellas watching for the sun,
The yellow one went out, and then there was one.
Just one umbrella stood alone in the hall,
The purple one went out, and that was all!
(Source: Harris County Public Library)

SCIENCE ACTIVITY:  RAIN CLOUD IN A CUP

Ingredients:
Shaving Cream (use Barbasol or other brand that isn't a gel-based shaving cream)
Food Coloring
Cold Water
Clear Plastic Cup

Instructions:
1.  Fill the clear plastic cup 3/4 of the way with cold water.
2.  Spray the shaving cream on top of the cold water.
3.  Squeeze several drops of food coloring on top of the shaving cream and observe what happens.

The shaving cream represents the cloud and the food coloring represents the rain.  As water droplets inside a cloud continue to grow, they become heavy and eventually turn into rain and fall to the ground.

CRAFT:  RAIN STICKS

Ingredients:
Paper towel tubes
Construction paper or scrapbook paper
Glue sticks
Rubber bands
Dry rice
Dry beans
Aluminum foil

Instructions:
1.  Cover the paper towel tube with paper and glue in place.  If you are using construction paper, the kids can decorate the paper however they choose before gluing it onto the tube.
2.  Cut two squares out of the paper.  Cover one end of the tube with the paper square and rubber band it in place.
3.  Fill the tube with some rice, beans, and two crumpled up lengths of foil.
4.  Cover the other end of the tube with the second paper square and rubber band it tightly.
5.  Shake gently and hear the sounds of rain...or rock out to some music, as this craft makes an excellent music instrument!