Rainy Storytime

This storytime was rather tricky because I had two preschool children and all the rest were toddlers.  I know my storytime is "all ages" (2-5) but it is challenging keeping the young one engaged and still offering something for the older children too.  If I knew who would consistently attend it would be easier to play.  I will continue to work on the best ways to do this storytime and try to be flexible!

Books

Raindrop, Plop!

by Wendy Chyette Lewison; illustrated by Pam Paparone

Raindrop Roll

by  April Pulley Sayre 

I love this new book about rain with it's gorgeous photographs...but I think it was lost on my young storytime group today.

Flannel Board/Songs

R-A-I-N-Y
(sung to Bingo)

There is a day when I get wet
And rainy is the weather
R-A-I-N-Y
R-A-I-N-Y
R-A-I-N-Y
And rainy is the weather.

I borrowed this adorable R-A-I-N-Y flannel board from a colleague.

I like to take the letters away from the end of the word.  I find that the children are able to say the letters and clap more easily when I do it this way.  I turn letter over when we "take it away" to remind them how many times to clap.

There is a day when I get wet
And rainy is the weather
R-A-I-N-(clap)
R-A-I-N-(clap)
R-A-I-N-(clap)
And rainy is the weather.

There is a day when I get wet
And rainy is the weather
R-A-I-(clap)-(clap)
R-A-I-(clap)-(clap)
R-A-I-(clap)-(clap)
And rainy is the weather.

Continue taking way letters until you have no letters and five claps.

There is a day when I get wet
And rainy is the weather
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And rainy is the weather.

Plip, Plip, Plop
(sung to Jingle Bells)

I have the children shake jingle bells while we sing!

Plip, plip, plop
Plip, plip, plop
Rainy April days
Springtime showers water flowers
So they'll bloom in May!

Plip, plip, plop
Plip, plip, plop
Rainy April days
Springtime showers water flowers
So they'll bloom in May! Hey!

Itsy Bitsy Spider
(traditional)

Supercharged
What I did:  Talked about words that start with the letter R.  Pointed out lowercase letters in our Rainy song.

Parent Tip:  Occasionally share books with children that have photographs instead of illustrations.  The photos in Raindrops Roll are amazing and children love to see the world around them.

Play and Learn

Musical Instruments

Puddle Jumping (into hula hoops)

Clouds in the blue sky (cotton balls)

Blocks

Coloring Sheet