DIY Storytime Smackdown: Rain

Storytime is a wonderful experience for parents and children to spend time with each other and helps you develop your child's early language and literacy skills.

Its raining, its pouring and storytime is just starting!

Storytime chant or song: 

(Clap and dance around enthusiastically as you perform with the children) 

*Tip: Use simple instruments such as a triangle, baby rattle, or even pots and pans to beat out a catchy tune*

Storytime, storytime

here we come

storytime, storytime

we'll have so much fun!

reading, and singing, and dancing around.

come on let's get ready by sitting down!

Storytime chant by Jennifer


Read the following book: Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee 

Perform this action rhyme: 

The rain is falling from the sky (Have your child wave his fingers and hands around in the air like falling raindrops) 

to the ground. (Have your child crouch on the ground)

I want to go outside. (Have your child make a motion like he is opening a door to go outside)

So I put on my rain boots (Have child sit on the ground  and mimic putting on his rain boots) 

Put on my raincoat (Have your child  make believe  he is putting on his coat) 

Grab my umbrella and go outside. (Have child make a grabbing motion for the umbrella and "opening the door" motion) 

Action rhyme by Jennifer 

Sing the following song: 

Fun in the Rain 

Sung to: "Deck the Halls"

Do you hear the pitter patter? Hear the little raindrops falling down.
Can you see the splashing water? All the little raindrops on the ground.
Time to get our big umbrellas We don't want to get our hair all wet.
If you wear your boots and raincoat, We will go outside and splash a bit!


(Source: http://www.preschooleducation.com/sweather.shtml)


Use the following rhyme as a fingerplay:

(Perform the following movements with hands and body as suggested by the rhyme) 


Boom, Bang!
Boom, bang, boom, bang;
Rumpety, thumpety, bump!
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam;
Clippety, clappety, clump!
Rustles and bustles, swishes and zings-
What wonderful noises a thunderstorm brings!


(Source: http://musicmakersforkids.blogspot.com/2009/02/march-fingerplays-weather.html)


Make a flannel board using the following rhyme: 


5 Little Raindrops

Five little raindrops plopping on the floor,
one plopped away, and then there were four.
Four little raindrops dripping on the trees,
one dripped away, and then there were three.
Three little raindrops splashing on my shoe,
one splashed away, and then there were two.
Two little raindrops starting to run,
one ran off, and then there was one.
One little raindrop drying in the sun,
it dried all up, and then there were none!


(Source: http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/weather/weather_songs.htm)

Make a rainy day weather mobile with your child! 

(This project teaches your child what types of clothing and items you should use to keep you dry during a rainstorm).

1. Photocopy the following coloring pages for the raindrops and rain boots onto card stock or computer paper: http://www.printablecolouringpages.co.uk/?s=rain+boots and http://www.preschoollearningonline.com/Coloringpages/Coloringpages2/raindrops.gif
2. Use blue and aqua ink stamp pads to color in the raindrops using a disposable cosmetic sponge. 
3. Outline the raindrops with an aqua marker. 
4. Cut out raindrops and set aside. 
5. Make a cloud by using the cloud in the Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut Cartridge. 
6. Use gray and black stamp pads to color in the cloud using a disposable cosmetic sponge. 
7. Cut out and set aside
8. Color your boot with a scarlet-colored crayon. 
9. Use a purple marker to color boot strap, brown marker to color boot lining, and yellow marker to color boot buckle. 
10. Cut purple tissue paper, yellow card stock and aqua computer paper in strips to create lines for the plaid pattern you will make on your boot. 
11. Cut thin strips of wrapping paper to include in your plaid design.
12. Cut a piece of wrapping paper to go over the toe of the boot. 
13. Glue wrapping paper on toe of boot. 
14. Glue on the plaid design as shown in picture. 
15. Create an umbrella using cream card stock from the umbrella design found within the Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut Cartridge.
16. Darken umbrella handle with brown and black ink pads. 
17.  Make red, blue, green, and orange circles on umbrellas with bingo daubers. 
18. Glue small raindrops onto umbrella. 
19. Use a hole punch to punch holes in the tops of raindrops, umbrella, and boots. 
20. Cut lengths of string to desired lengths and string through holes to create mobile. 
21. Tie off strings by making a knot and continue until finished. 
22. Hang where desired.

Sing a storytime goodbye song:

TICKLE THE CLOUDS 

(Suit actions to words)

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.
Turn around
And tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
And reach up high.
Storytime’s over –
Wave  goodbye!

(Source: Sunflowerstorytime.com Opening and Closing Songs for Storytime/)