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                   RAINY DAY PICTURES 
                    Have your children use crayons to draw pictures of outdoor 
                    scenes on white paper. Encourage them to press down hard while 
                    they are coloring. Tint water with blue food coloring to make 
                    a transparent, watery "paint." Let the children 
                    brush the paint over their papers to create a rainy-day look. 
                     
                       
                   
                     
                      COLORED CHALK 
                        RAIN PICTURES 
                        Invite your children to draw pictures on white construction 
                        paper with pieces of colored chalk. Then have them hold 
                        their pictures outside in the rain. Or let them dip their 
                        fingers into water and sprinkle "raindrops" 
                        on their papers. What happens to the chalk colors when 
                        they become wet? (They become more vibrant.) 
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                  RAIN GEAR SORT 
                  In a large box, place several items suitable for use in dry 
                  weather, such as a tee shirt, a sweatshirt, and sandals, plus 
                  items suitable for use in rainy weather, such as an umbrella, 
                  a raincoat, and boots. Invite your children to sort out the 
                  items they would select to use on a rainy day. 
                   
                     
                  
                     
                       RAINY 
                        NUMERALS 
                        Use masking tape to form large numerals on colored construction 
                        paper. With your children, take the papers outside and 
                        hold them in the rain. When the papers are completely 
                        wet, bring them back inside. Then remove the masking tape 
                        to reveal the dry numerals. Have the children observe 
                        what happens to the numerals as the paper dries. | 
                     
                   
                   SENSING THE RAIN 
                    Take your children outdoors on a rainy day to explore with 
                    their senses. Ask questions such as these. 
                   
                    
                      | How does the rain feel on your skin? | 
                     
                    
                      | How does the rain make the outdoors 
                        smell? | 
                     
                    
                      | What does the rain sound like? | 
                     
                    
                      | What does the rain look like in the 
                        sky? On the ground? | 
                     
                    
                      | What does the rain taste like on your 
                        tongue? | 
                     
                   
                   
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