Come On Rain
by Karen Hesse

Meet the Author

Meet the Illustrator

Respond to this book on the Powers Ferry blog

Curriculum Connections
 

Have you ever played in the rain?
What are the benefits of the rain?
What happens when we don't have rain?
Where does rain come from?
Picture Walk - This book has rich language, so a picture walk is essential for establishing meaning.

The following topics can be taught from Come On, Rain!  Examples are often contained in the text. Readers and Writers topics can often be taught in either workshop.

Readers Workshop

Vocabulary
Intonation
Sensory Details
Dialect
Similes, Metaphors

Predictions
Connections (listless vines/parched plants compared to wilted in Chrysanthemum)
Retelling

Writers Workshop

Engaging beginning
Sensory Details
Point of View
Complex Characters
Figurative Language
Dialogue
Describing Words
Personification
Poetry

Language Use/Conventions

Ellipsis
Dialogue
Punctuation
Adjectives

Math

Science

Water Cycle
Weather
Plants
Seasons
 

Social Studies

Communities (urban neighborhoods)
30's era (families; Where are the dads?, children's games; hot potato)
Southern Foods
Diversity

Health

Cleanliness (sweat)


 

Character Ed./Guidance

Simple things bring happiness
Hope
Kindness towards neighbors

Activities Integrating Technology
 

Digital Camera/Photo Story - Pictures can be taken, printed and used in the classroom.  You may also use them to make slideshows or movies.

• Take pictures of different kinds of weather.

• Create a photo story of the water cycle.

• Create a photo story of a developing rain storm.

• Take pictures of students playing in the rain.

• Create a photo story of a weather reporter

• Take pictures of what students like to do on a rainy day.

Graph Club

• Create a daily weather graph.

• Create a graph of your favorite type of weather.

• Create a graph of your favorite season.

• Create a graph showing what you do on rainy days.

Kidspiration/Inspiration

• Word Webs

Types of weather and associated vocabulary
Southern Foods

• Super Grouper
  
  Create a group for each of the seasons.  Add pictures to each group that goes with that season.
   

• Reading/Writing Templates
  
  Character - Create a web for Chrysanthemum
  Vocabulary Word and New Word - Use with the Words and Phrases to Explore.
  Thinking About Stories - A Story Map
  Thinking About Poetry - A Story Map for Poetry
   

• Social Studies Templates
  
  A time in the Past - Use this template to explore a time in the past.
  Now and Long Ago - Compare life today with life at the time of the story.
   

• Science Templates
  
  Simple Cycle - Use this template to create the water cycle.
  This Week's Weather - Use symbols to record the weather for a week.
   

Neighborhood Map Machine

• Create a map of Tessie's neighborhood.

PowerPoint - Download directions for making bookmarks and little books.

• Bookmarks
  
  Weather bookmarks - Make an informational bookmark with facts about weather or bookmarks about different types of weather or storms.
  Simile/Metaphor bookmarks - Make a bookmark that illustrates some of the similes and metaphors from the book.
  Book Review bookmarks - Make a bookmark that summarizes the book and gives an opinion of the book.
   

• Little Books
  
  Vocabulary book - Have students create a book that illustrates the words or phrases that are used in the book.  This could also be done just with the similes and metaphors.
  
  The Books Says...I Say - Have students create a vocabulary book that follows the pattern "The book says... I say..." 
   

• Presentations
  
  Summarizing/Retelling - Take pictures of the book pages.  Have students narrate or retell what is happening on each page.
  
  
   

Readinga-z books - Listed below are titles that are available at www.readinga-z.com.  The level is parenthesis is the Fountas & Pinnell guided reading level. 

• The City (AA)

• Summer (AA)

• Hot/Cold (A)

• You and I (B)

• Where is Water (B)

• Getting Around the City (C)

• Clouds (D)

• Where Plants Grow (D)

• Senses (D)

• The Storm (E)

• City Places (E)

• The Four Seasons (E)

• Changing Seasons (F)

• What is the Weather Today? (F)

• Places People Live (G)

• Foods We Eat (G)

• Long Ago and Today (G)

• A Sea Grows (G)

• How Many Rhymes (G)

• Living Together (H)

• Friends Around the World (H)

• Earth's Water (H)

• Spring is Here (H)

• Land and Water (I)

• Families (I)

• Healthy Me (I)

• Life at the Pond (I)

• What Comes From Plants (K)

• Go Away Sun (K)

• Strange Plants (K)

• Playing it Safe (K)

• Smelly Clyde (L)

• Jessica Loves Soccer (L)

• Introducing Planet Earth (L)

• At Jacob's House (L)

• Harold the Hungry Plant (M)

• Story of the Sun (M)

• The Raven and the Flood (N)

• The Force of Water (N)

• Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (N)

• Celebrating Food and Family (N)

• Storm Chasers (R)

• Tsunamis (S)

• Hurricanes (S)

• Severe Weather (T)

• Deserts Dry (W)

• Desert People (W)

• Dust Bowl Disaster (X)

Timeliner

• Create a timeline that shows the beginning, middle, and end of the story or several events to sequence the story.

• Create a timeline that shows what happens to water (water cycle).

United Streaming Videos - Listed below are titles that are available at www.unitedstreaming.com.  Click on the link, log in, and you will go right to the video.  Please preview any videos before using them with students.  You may also want to import the video into PowerPoint and then create questions to use with Beyond Question.

• Reading
  
   

• English/Language Arts
   

• Science
  
   

• Guidance/Character Ed.
   

Webquests

Related Websites
 

Related Literature

Updated On:  January 7, 2008