R is for Rain

As the saying goes, we're supposed to have showers in April, so I had planned to talk about rain this week.  Unfortunately, this was what was falling from the sky today.

Yes, indeed, those are snowflakes.

Oh well, we still did our rain activities and learned about the letter "R".  The kids pasted together a bunny in a rain coat.  Josiah let me show him where all the pieces would go, but Alexandra just wanted to put them on the page.  She decided that the bunny most definitely needed a bow on her nose.

On Friday, at our library's children's story hour, Aunt Laura (my soon-to-be sister-in-law) was the guest reader and the kids made rain sticks.  A paper towel tube, some rolled up aluminum foil, rice, construction paper, and tape and you're good to go.  Now if I can just convince Josiah that not everything cylindrical should be used as a drumstick.

The rain books from our library that I liked are Rain by Manya Stojic, which shows African animals experiencing the rain with different senses, and Raindrop Plop by Wendy Cheyette Lewison, which tells the story of a girl playing out in the rain using counting up and counting down.

Alexandra had a short attention span today, so Josiah and I continued with our letter "R".  In honor of Earth Day, we played a Recycle from Ingles360 Freebies.  I was very impressed that my little man could pick out the letter r almost every time.  The "P" and "A" tripped him up once, silly look alike letters.

I was planning on doing some Seasons and Clothing matching from Montessori for Everyone, but just did not get around to it.

Lastly, we ended with a few songs about rain and the seasons.

April Showers Song (to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
Pitter patter rain drops   (wiggle fingers to imitate rain) 

Falling from the sky   (wiggle fingers downward) 
Here's my umbrella   (action of opening an umbrella) 
Hold it high!   (hands over head) 
When the rain is over  (bring hands down slowly) 
and the sun begins to glow   (make sun with arms) 
Little flowers start to bud   (Kneel down) 

then grow, grow, grow!!!   (slowly stand up)

Nikki {Tired, Need Sleep} pointed me to this great song about the seasons.

Seasons of the Year (to the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush")
CHORUS:
Here we go round the year again,
The year again, the year again.
Here we go round the year again,
To greet the different seasons.

Wintertime is time for snow.
To the south, the birds will go.
It's too cold for plants to grow
Because it is the winter.

CHORUS

In the springtime, days grow warm.
On the plants, the new buds form.
Bees and bugs come out to swarm
Because it is the spring.

CHORUS

In summertime, the days are hot.
Ice cold drinks I drink a lot!
At the beach, I've got a spot
Because it is the summer.

CHORUS

Fall is here, the air is cool.
Days are short, it's back to school.
Raking leaves is now the rule
Because it is autumn.

CHORUS