A rainy day is perfect for science experiments and reading books about rain. We recently read several rainy day books and several rainy day. (We have had over ten days of rain.) You will find some of the other books with a rain theme that we read shared on the Who Likes the Rain? (Exploring the Elements)
We like rain at my house. JDaniel loves to jump in puddles and dance in the rain. I love to dance right along with him. We have had more than share lately as I mentioned. With all that rain came tons of questions about rain.
Rainy Day Questions like:
- What do raindrops look like before they land on me?
- Where do puddles come from?
- Why do plants need rain?
- How do snails get their shells?
- Why does the air smell different after the rain?
These questions and several more are answered in this wonderful flap book for early readers. I learned a lot from reading this book with JDaniel and he understands a lot more about rain. We are going to have to look for other books in this series. The text is easy to understand and the questions are ones that my son loved knowing the answers to.
Science Experiments We Did to Explore This Book
Art-Related Science Experiment
JDaniel and I decorated a construction paper umbrella with several different kinds of drawing tools. Chalk, magic markers, crayons, and a bingo marker were each used to decorate an umbrella.
The umbrellas were set in a broiler pan and then placed outside on a bench on our deck to wait for the rain. At first, there was only a small shower. I headed out to take pictures of our results and then left them outside to dry.
Then it rained again. This time it was a downpour. The artwork drastically changed after the downpour. The designs on all the umbrellas smeared and in some cases ran off. I need to disclose that I didn’t leave them out in the downpour for long after only a couple of minutes I scrambled outside to bring them in.
It was interesting to see what effect each type of rain had on the artwork.
Baking Ingredient Science Experiment
This experiment was done during a rainy day using the two storms on that day as the art-related science experiment. Several different baking ingredients from our pantry were placed into a silicone muffin tin.
We placed them on the same bench on the deck as the art project to save us from running all over the deck.
After the short shower, most of the ingredients looked a little damp and the colored sugar had started to run. The heavy rain caused a physical change to most of the ingredients. The Italian seasoning got puffed up a bit. The salt had absorbed the water. The cinnamon changed colors. The flour had craters in it from the raindrops. The sugar had gotten a little syrupy. The salt was a little puffier and didn’t display much water. The color sugar had a puddle of green in its cup.
JDaniel tasted them each and said the sugar tasted sweeter as did the colored sugar. The salt was still salty. He wasn’t willing to try the Italian season or the flour.
This experiment was wonderful for talking about physical and chemical changes that can happen to materials and ingredients when they come in contact with water.
While we were ready for some days of sunshine, some science experiments on a rainy day were fun.
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Your “dissolving by rain” experiment is brilliant. We might do it too, but will have to wait until late fall 🙂
Well all it does here is rain and we have had some flooding lately. So your book choice is fitting!
My favorite rainy day activity is just dancing in the rain with the kids! I love being a big kid sometimes! LOL!
What a fun activity! It’s raining today here. I’ll have to keep this in mind when my daughter is a bit older.
It’s been so rainy here lately!! It’s awesome that you can take that and turn it into fun and learning!!! –Lisa
Love these activities! I’m eager to try some rain experiment soon with my kids. Thanks for sharing these ideas.
What a great learning project, and perfect since the east coast has become the rainforest this month!
I remember playing in the rain as a kid and loving it! This activity looks like a lot of fun for the little ones.
Wow! Thanks for the post. I running the science unit of our homeschool group right now and always looking for new experiments. This page needs to be book marked for sure 🙂
I love how you incorporated the rain into the experiment, I’m sure it kept them looking out the window and investigating all day.
This looks so fun! love all the pics! xo xo
GREAT experiments! I love that your seized the opportunity a rainy spell provided and backed up the hands-on fun with related books! Don’t forget to share this at the After School Linky Party up on my blog every Monday: deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com
Love the idea of seeing what rain will do to the artwork.
I pinned this post for our next rainy day, thanks!
We finally had a full day of sunshine here in Ohio! I love your post. It made me think of my favorite book about rain — Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld. I remember reading that he used rain water to make his watercolor illustrations for the book. Very cool!
I had to laugh at him not being willing to try the Italian Seasoning of flour! I love how you took advantage of the rain–I’m pinning this!!
Every kid loves a good experiment. All it takes is a parent patient enough to allow it to happen.
Good for you!
=)
Love these experiments!
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What wonderful ideas 🙂
I love finding new science Ideas! Will save for another rainy day!
thanks – you are so creative! are you just researching and finding each project or making them up yourself? such great ideas 😉 pinned
now that is how to make the most out of a rainy day…
guess we need to go look at these books, as broxton has been asking a million questions lately..
Lots of good basic ideas there. Have pinned. http://www.pinterest.com/letkidsbekids1/
#Parenting-pin-it-party
i really really like the dissolving experiment!
pinned and shared. thank you for linking up with the #pinitparty
Perfect activities for all of the rain we have had this week! Thanks for sharing at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop!