A Stormy, No Fun, Boring Kind of Day!

                 

Hello readers! We are back this week with a blog to give you some ideas when teaching children how to make connections while reading. The book we have chosen to discuss this week is Rain, Rain, Go Away copyrighted by Scholastic and illustrated by Viviana Garofoli. Not only is this book a great read aloud but it is also designed to sing with the traditional tune of Rain, Rain, Go Away. We enjoyed exploring this text and its many possibilities for learning!

In this book there is a boy and a girl that really want to go out to play. However, the rain has come and it is too messy to have a fun day outside. The children suggest that the rain come back on Saturday or an April Day. They say the sun wants to come out to stay so rain, rain, just go away! At the end of the book the children got their wish and the sun came out and they got to play. The rain was gone and the sun was their to brighten their day! 

Lesson & Activity;

This lesson would be used as an introduction lesson to "making connections" and could be used at a very young age. This particular story we selected would work on the concept of a text to self connection. Since this lesson is all about making connections, it would also be fun to start this lesson off by singing Rain, Rain, Go Away.

• First, the book should be read to the children. While reading the book make sure to stop and model "making connections" by giving the children examples of when you wanted to go outside and couldn't because of the rain. Don't forget to ask questions before, during, and after the reading to monitor understanding as well. Many of the children have heard the song before, however, some many have not.
•  Next, draw a picture of the day you couldn't go outside because of the rain as a model  to the students. (Explain the rain, temperature, sickness etc. could be a reason for staying in, not just the rain.)
• Then, place the students in groups of four and ask them to draw about a day they were stuck inside. After all members have completed their drawing, get them to share with the other group members. (While the children are working, provide each group with a copy of the book to reference the children and their rainy day.)
• Last, allow the students to hang art work somewhere in the class. Encourage students to look at all other classmates in their free time and ask fellow students to explain their "rainy day." 

*This information was found at readinglady.com.

 

Leave us your comments on how you might use this book to making connections!

 AND.....

Tune in next week for ideas in using a book and an activity to use when teaching one of the other comprehension strategies!

"Thank You, Mrs. Ross!"

   

People across the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 each year honoring the United States flag and to commemorate the flag's adoption.

Do you know the flag's history?
"Have you ever wondered how America got its first flag?  Some people believe that a woman named Betsy Ross made it." "Betsy Ross lived from 1752 to 1836 and she may have sewn the first American flag."

Imagine being a young woman working inside your husband's upholstery shop in the 1700's.  It's a time of war, and your husband is off fighting while you tend to the business.  One day, the General of the colonies' army comes in and requests your assistance in making a flag to represent freedom from England!

The Easy Reader's Biography book, Betsy Ross, The Story of Our Flag by Pamela Chanko is an excellent source for correlating the standard:
SSKH1:h The student will identify the purpose of national holidays and describe the people or events celebrated. h. Flag Day  
and introducing young students to the American legend of how George Washington commissioned Betsy Ross to create a flag for the anticipation of the declaration our independence and the adoption of making it our official flag.

In this book, the life of Betsy Ross is told in a narrative format on a level that is easy for young students to understand.  It depicts colorful illustrations that include historical facts on each page. Some interesting facts stated in this book include, "Betsy had 16 brothers and sisters. Her chores included helping with the sewing. She married John Ross and they owned an upholstery shop.  This is where George Washington (not yet President) commissioned her to create the first American flag". The book illustrates a comparison of the 1776 and today's flag with facts about the number of stripes and stars used. The book also states that, "It was on June 14, 1777, the design of the first American flag was made official."  Hence: The celebration of Flag Day. 



In closing, we will leave you with our own "take away thoughts" and a short music video to integrate music into your lessons.  Be sure to share your thoughts with us and how would you use this book inside the classroom?

Karen's thoughts:

The thing I liked the most about this book was the simplicity.  It told a story of the life of Betsy Ross, while including historical facts in the colorful illustrations.  I had thought it to be fact that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag before reading this book. I found it interesting to learn this is just a legend., and it really has not been proven to be a fact.  Teachers could use a Venn diagram to compare the two flags. as well as teach about celebrating Flag Day.  I think a great activity to use for the book is to have the students design their own interpretation of the American flag.

Whitney's thoughts: 

I found this book to be interesting because I never realized the first flag was not the actual original design. I would read this book as part of a symbols lesson and add many objects like the flag, along with other American symbols to spark the interest of the children. It would be great to teach children the flag represents American and teach them its importance. It would be fun to allow the children to imagine they were designing their own country and flag. I would ask the children to explain the meaning behind their flags.

Integrate a little music into your lesson....

Young children love music!  Check out this cute Flag Day song you could also incorporate into your lesson.