Rain, Rain!

With less than a month left before the start of school, we're getting very excited to turn our classrooms in colorful, creative learning environments!  Until then, here are a few ideas to get your children's brains revved up for school! With some terrific thunderstorms in Saturday's forecast, there's no better time to play with rain!

• Engage the senses:  Thunder may be scary, but not when you can make it yourself!  Try flapping a foil pan or striking a bent hand saw (with adult help!!!) to mimic the sound of thunder.  Try bouncing corn kernels, beans, rice, sand, beads -whatever your heart fancies!-off of a pie plate, a linoleum floor, a porcelain dish.  Which one sounds the most like rain?  Which one looks the most like rain?  Do you notice how the objects bounce off in a different direction than the way they fell? 
   
• Enlighten the mind: Did you know that you see lightning before you hear thunder because light moves at a faster speed than sound?  See if you can count the time between when you see a flash of lightning and when you hear a clap of thunder.  Then use the chart below from the National Weather Service to help you determine how far away the storm is from you!
• For bonus points: Did you know you're doing multiplication and division????  See if you can use skip-counting to write a math problem that helps you calculate how far away a storm really is.

If Thunder is Heard	The Lightning Is
5 seconds after lightning	1 mile away
10 seconds after lightning	2 miles away
15 seconds after lightning	3 miles away
20 seconds after lightning	4 miles away
25 seconds after lightning	5 miles away
30 seconds after lightning	6 miles away
35 seconds after lightning	7 miles away
40 seconds after lightning	8 miles away

 

• Nurture the spirit: Noah and his family lived through a pretty crazy storm!  Read the story of Noah in the Book of Genesis.  Why did God choose Noah and his family to escape the flood?  Do you think Noah and his family were afraid of the flood?  Why or why not?

Stay dry on your adventure!  We'll see you soon!