Storytime - Rain

Just in time for April showers, here's my storytime about rain!

Books:

Itzy Bitzy House by Christine Morton-Shaw - This was the first book that I read in my Totally Threes storytime. It's about different animals that get caught in the rain. The book ended up being a bit long for them and I don't think my kids liked all the "boo hoo's" in the story. Oh well. Can't win them all.




Raindrop Plop by Wendy Lewison - This is a cute, short counting book about a little girl who plays in the rain and then comes inside to warm up and wait for the sun. I used this as the first story in my Toddler Storytime and it went over pretty well.





The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na - Il Sung Na is one of my favorite authors to use in storytime. His books are short, sweet, and the illustrations are gorgeous. This story is about an elephant who finds an umbrella but isn't quite sure of what it is. I like to wait until just before the end to ask the kids if they know what the "thingamabob" is. I used this in both of my storytimes.

Songs/Rhymes:

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout (make "spider" with hands and crawl up)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out (wiggle fingers down and make splashing motion out)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain (make "sun" above head)
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again! (make "spider" with hands and crawl up)

Then we added a couple of other spiders:

The giant, hairy spider (make BIG spider with hands and sing in a deep voice)
The very quiet spider (make small motions and sing in a whisper)

Rain Is Falling Down

Rain is falling down (wiggle arms down to floor like "rain")
Splash! (make splashing motion)
Rain is falling down (wiggle arms down to floor like "rain")
Splash! (make splashing motion)
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter (make pitter-patter motion on legs or floor)
Rain is falling down (wiggle arms down to floor like "rain")
Splash! (make splashing motion)

We're Stomping In The Rain
(Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell)

We're stomping in the rain
We're stomping in the rain
We can't go yet
We must get wet
We're stomping in the rain!

Repeat with:

Splashing, Jumping, etc...ask the kids for suggestions!

Craft:

Paper Plate Rain Shakers

This craft was super easy to prep/do. I took paper plates and pre-stapled them 2/3 of the way closed. The kids could color them first and then pour a small amount of beans (I used great northern or navy beans - something larger) into the paper plate opening. The parents then stapled the plate the rest of the way. Lastly, the kids could add some pre-cut blue streamers for "rain".