Books and Poetry to Inspire Rainy Day Imaginations

We read these books and poems throughout the mini-unit to ignite imaginations and connect to rain, frogs, and ducks. Each offers a unique perspective, fostering emotional and creative growth.

1. Umbrella by Taro Yashima
   A bittersweet story of a girl using her umbrella for the first time, discovering independence. Its gentle narrative captivates preschoolers, encouraging reflection on growing up.
2. The Umbrella by Dieter Schubert
   This wordless book sparks storytelling as children follow an umbrella’s whimsical journey, boosting imagination through vibrant illustrations.
3. The Umbrella by Jan Brett
   A delightful tale that has kids wondering how many animals can fit under one umbrella, encouraging counting and observation.
4. Rain by Robert Louis Stevenson from A Child’s Garden of Verses
   This poem’s rhythmic language captures rain’s wonder, helping kids appreciate sensory experiences.
   The rain is raining all around, / It falls on field and tree, / It rains on the umbrellas here, / And on the ships at sea.
5. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
   This heartwarming story teaches kids to find joy in ordinary moments, like rainy bus rides, fostering gratitude.
6. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
   This classic follows a duck family navigating a rainy day in the city, delighting preschoolers with its charming tale of adventure and family bonds, tying to rain and ducks.

7. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter
   Jeremy Fisher, a frog, embarks on a rainy day’s fishing adventure. The whimsical story and illustrations captivate kids, connecting to the frog and water theme.
8. Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats
   This rhythmic book features animals like frogs in a wet meadow, encouraging counting and nature exploration through vibrant art and sing-song text.
9. Ten Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle
   A playful story of rubber ducks lost at sea, this book sparks imagination and counting skills, linking to rain and ducks.
10. The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
    Ping, a duck, navigates life on a river, offering a gentle tale of adventure and homecoming that ties to water and rainy environments.
11. A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
    This colorful story follows a child imagining a rainbow to brighten a rainy day, inspiring creativity and connecting to the beauty of rain and weather.
12. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter
    Jemima, a duck, seeks a place to lay her eggs, leading to a charming adventure. This story ties to the duck theme, delighting kids with its gentle narrative.
13. Where Do They Go When It Rains? by Gerda Muller
    This beautifully illustrated book explores where animals go during rain, sparking curiosity about nature and tying to rainy days and animal behavior.
14. The Ark by Arthur Geisert
    This imaginative retelling of Noah’s Ark, with its focus on rain and animals, captivates preschoolers with intricate illustrations, connecting to water and survival.
15. Rabbits and Raindrops by Jim Arnosky
    This charming picture book follows five baby rabbits on their first adventure outside the nest, exploring nature as they nibble clover, meet grasshoppers, spiders, and bees, and play tag. When a sudden rain shower arrives, they scamper for shelter, highlighting the connection between animals and weather.
16. It’s Raining, It’s Pouring by Peter, Paul, and Mary
    This delightful picture book is one of my absolute favorites and brings the classic nursery rhyme to life with playful illustrations by Christine Davenier. The book can be simply read but knowing the tune by the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary is what sets this book apart from others. Aimed at ages 2–5, it whimsically follows grandchildren navigating a rainy day at their grandparents, blending song and story to engage young readers.

These books and poems weave literacy into the rainy day activities below, creating a cohesive learning experience.

Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

These rainy day activities engage preschoolers in play-based learning about rain, grouped into three sections: animals, science and weather study, and crafts and math.

Animals: Exploring Frogs and Ducks

These rainy day activities introduce preschoolers to frogs and ducks, fostering curiosity about animals that love to play in the rain.

Frog Life Cycle

Dive into biology by playing with toys featuring the different stages of a frog’s life cycle. Pair it with the free printable and your child has an easy lesson all about the life cycle of a frog.

• What You’ll Need: Life cycle toys and free printable available at the link.
• How to Do It: Provide your child with the toys and printable. My boys naturally begin to match the life cycle stages with no prompting. If needed though encourage them to place the toys on the stage that looks the same. Then ask questions such as, “Why do frogs need water?” or “What changes as they grow?”
• Why It’s Great: Introduces life cycles through hands-on play, sparking interest in biology.
• Tip: For younger kids guide them through each step and name the stages with them repeating after you.

Frog Dissection Play

Explore frog anatomy through a playful dissection using a gelatin mold. This indoor rainy day activity makes science fun and accessible.

• What You’ll Need: Frog dissection kit, gloves, and safety gloves (to mimic setting up a lab environment).
• How to Do It: The kit comes with a premade mold (plus additional gelatin crystals to repeat the activity). Let kids cut open the gelatin mold, identifying parts like the heart or stomach. Refer to the pamphlet for additional organs. Discuss how frogs live in wet habitats, asking, “Why do frogs need moist skin?”
• Why It’s Great: Engages curiosity about anatomy through playful exploration.
• Tip: Guide younger kids with an observant eye to keep things from becoming messy.

Duck Life Cycle

Learn about duck growth by crafting a life cycle, connecting to rain’s role in wetlands.

• What You’ll Need: Free printable from Sparkle Box, scissors, and a glue stick.
• How to Do It: Your child will cut and paste the stages of a duck’s life cycle in the correct order. Discuss how rain supports wetlands for ducks, asking, “Where do ducklings live?” or “How does rain help ducks?”
• Why It’s Great: Combines creativity and science, fostering understanding of animal growth.
• Tip: Simplify by focusing on naming and ordering stages for younger kids.

Duck Feather Study

Discover how ducks stay dry in rain through a simple experiment. This rainy day activity teaches about nature’s adaptations.

• What You’ll Need: 2 Feathers, water, oil, small bowl, paper towels.
• How to Do It: Dip one feather in oil. Lay on a hard, dry surface. Now, with a pipette squeeze water droplets onto each feather. Notice which one pools the water and which one allows it to run through. The oil repels water like a duck’s natural coating created by their uropygial gland. Discuss why ducks thrive in rain, asking, “How does the oil help?” or “Why don’t ducks get wet?”
• Why It’s Great: Introduces animal adaptations through hands-on science.
• Tip: Let kids experiment with different amounts of oil to see variations.

Science Study: Discovering Rain and Weather

Use experiments and observations to teach preschoolers about rain and weather patterns.

Rain Cloud in a Jar

Create a mini rainstorm to explore the water cycle, a fascinating way to learn about weather. This indoor rainy day activity captivates kids with its visual magic.

• What You’ll Need: Clear jar, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring, pipette.
• How to Do It: Fill a jar with water, add a shaving cream “cloud” on top, and drip blue food coloring through it. Watch “rain” fall, discussing the water cycle. Ask, “Why does the cloud release rain?” or “What makes clouds heavy?”
• Why It’s Great: Makes abstract science concrete, sparking curiosity about weather.
• Tip: For younger kids, focus on the colors and movement, guiding their observations.

Create a Weather Vane

Observe wind patterns on a rainy day with a homemade weather vane, a simple way to learn about weather. This activity is created inside, then on clear day it is used outside.

• What You’ll Need: Straw, paper, pencil, pin, tape.
• How to Do It: Attach a paper arrow to a straw, pin it to a pencil to spin freely. Take it outside to see wind direction, discussing its role in rain. Ask, “Which way is the wind blowing?” or “Does wind bring rain?”
• Why It’s Great: Encourages observation and connects weather concepts to real life.
• Tip: Supervise closely outdoors and simplify discussion for younger kids.

Grow a Rainbow

Watch colors move like rain in a vibrant experiment, inspired by A Rainbow of My Own. This indoor activity introduces water movement in a fun way.

• What You’ll Need: Paper towels, water, food coloring, cups.
• How to Do It: Color the ends of a cut paper towel, dip ends in bowls of water, and watch colors climb, mimicking capillary action. Discuss how a rainbow can form after a rainstorm.
• Why It’s Great: Blends science and art, sparking curiosity about water’s behavior.
• Tip: Discuss how light refracting through raindrops breaks the different wave lengths of color apart creating a rainbow. Recreate this in your own home using a prism. Discover more here, Rainbows and Prisms.

Water Cycle in a Bag

Explore the water cycle with a simple bag experiment, a visual way to learn about rain. This indoor activity ties to rainy day themes.

• What You’ll Need: Resealable plastic bag, water, blue food coloring, marker, tape.
• How to Do It: Draw a water cycle on a bag, add water with blue food coloring, and tape it to a window. Observe evaporation and “rain,” discussing the cycle. Ask, “Where does rain come from?” or “What happens to water in the sun?”
• Why It’s Great: Makes the water cycle tangible, fostering scientific thinking.
• Tip: Make sure your child understands that you’re setting up the experiment and will get to see it in action when the sun comes out.

Crafts & Math: Building Skills Through Play

These rainy day activities combine creativity and math, using rain and umbrellas as playful themes to build foundational skills.

Buy an Umbrella

Learn about money by shopping for an umbrella, a practical math adventure. This activity, tied to Umbrella by Taro Yashima, teaches financial literacy.

• What You’ll Need: Small bills or coins, access to a store.
• How to Do It: Give kids a budget to choose an umbrella, discussing options like fancy or plain designs. Let them pay, exploring choices. Ask, “Can you buy this and a treat?” or “How much is left?”
• Why It’s Great: Builds early math and decision-making skills through real-world experience.
• Tip: Guide younger kids through counting money to keep it simple.

Umbrella Raindrop Addition

Practice addition with a fun umbrella-themed game, inspired by Uu is for Umbrella’s printable. This indoor activity introduces math concepts.

• What You’ll Need: Umbrella printable, dried beans, markers.
• How to Do It: Use beans as raindrops to solve simple addition (for example, 2 + 3) on a printable umbrella. Ask, “How many raindrops total?” or “What happens when we add one more?”
• Why It’s Great: Combines math and creativity, making learning engaging.
• Tip: Start with simple addition facts for younger kids to build confidence.

Umbrella Ball Toss Game

Boost number recognition with an active umbrella game. This indoor activity is lively and fun.

• What You’ll Need: Umbrella, numbered balls, tape.
• How to Do It: Place an upside-down umbrella on the floor and tape a few paces away. Your child must name the number on the ball they choose before tossing it into the umbrella. For additional instructions and tips, check out the post.
• Why It’s Great: Enhances math and coordination through active play.
• Tip: Adapt the play for the age. If a child is younger, simply expect them to recognize the number. On the other hand, an older child can find the ball with the answer to 2+3 before getting to attempt to score in the umbrella.

Rubber Duck Addition Math Game

Learn addition with a duck-themed game, inspired by Ten Little Rubber Ducks. This indoor activity makes math playful.

• What You’ll Need: Rubber ducks, marker, numbered mat, bowl.
• How to Do It: Write numbers on ducks and addition facts on paper or a mat. When a child chooses a duck they must find the addition fact that equals the number on the duck.
• Why It’s Great: Reinforces addition through hands-on fun, tying to ducks and water.
• Tip: Use simple addition facts for younger kids to keep it accessible.

Shaving Cream Letter or Number Recognition Practice

Practice letters or numbers with cloud-like shaving cream, a tactile indoor activity. This ties to the rainy theme with its cloud-like texture and appearance.

• What You’ll Need: Shaving cream, tray, paper towels.
• How to Do It: Spread shaving cream on a tray, call out letters or numbers for kids to trace. Ask questions like, “Can you write a three?”
• Why It’s Great: Engages touch while reinforcing literacy and math skills.
• Tip: Have your own spot set up to write the letter or number down. This way if your child gets stuck they can copy.

Raindrop Suncatchers

Create a watery raindrop craft on a rainy day to then catch the sun on a clear day. This indoor activity enhances creativity.

• What You’ll Need: Wax paper, blue crayons, crayon sharpener, iron, string, and hole punch.
• How to Do It: Shave the crayons onto one sheet of wax paper. Once full, place another sheet on top. Use the iron on a low-setting to melt the three items together. Then create raindrop shapes, cut with scissors, and punch holes. String each up and either tape to a window or tie multiple to a stick. Display them in the window to mimic raindrops.
• Why It’s Great: Builds fine motor skills and celebrates rain’s aesthetics.
• Tip: The adult should be the only one using the iron. Also, it is your preference who draws and cuts the raindrops depending on your child’s age.

Shape Clouds with Cotton Balls

Craft cloud shapes to learn geometry, a calming indoor activity tied to rainy skies. This combines math and creativity.

• What You’ll Need: Paper, cotton balls, glue, markers.
• How to Do It: Glue cotton balls into shapes like circles or triangles on paper. Discuss clouds, asking, “What shape is your cloud?”
• Why It’s Great: Teaches shapes and counting through creative play.
• Tip: Name shapes as kids glue to reinforce learning for younger ones.

Why These Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers Work

These rainy day activities for preschoolers are flexible, engaging, and educational, designed for real rain outdoors or indoor weather-themed play. They follow play-based learning principles, targeting cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and creative development. The weather, rainbows, frogs, and ducks create a cohesive rain-theme, making learning an adventure. By blending animal studies, science, math, and crafts, these activities transform rainy days into growth opportunities. Most activities use everyday materials or free printables, ideal for homeschoolers.

Tips for Success

• Adapt to Needs: Simplify tasks, like using smaller numbers for math games, for younger kids.
• Encourage Movement: Plan quiet activities to follow active ones like ball tossing to keep your kiddo from becoming over-stimulated.
• Follow Their Lead: Revisit activities by offering a few different ones for your child to choose.
• Extend Learning: Use books to spark discussions about weather, animals, and rainbows.

Rainy Days Go Pitter-Pat-Play!

As rain taps your windows, these rainy day activities for preschoolers blend fun and learning, igniting creativity and curiosity. From crafting rainbows and cloud shapes to making rain in a jar or playing rubber duck math games, each activity turns gray days vibrant. Explore more at the post Indoor Activities for Kids and let the adventure begin!