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!