Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Identify rain as a form of water.
Understand that raindrops move and travel.
Develop an appreciation for the magic of rain and the natural world.
"Two Little Raindrops" book or watch the read aloud here
Watch the author's engaging read-aloud video of 'Two Little Raindrops' to introduce the story and characters or read the book aloud. (5-10 minutes)
Story Discussion and Rhyme Time: Discuss the story's main characters, Splish and Splash, and their journey. Ask questions like 'Where did Splish and Splash start?' and 'What happened when they fell from the cloud?' Encourage children to repeat the rhyming phrases from the book. (10-15 minutes)
Raindrop Play Exploration: Provide a water table or large bin with plastic raindrops or blue pom-poms. Encourage children to explore how water moves, making their 'raindrops' travel and 'swim' like Splish and Splash. Add small toy boats or ducks for imaginative play. (15-20 minutes)
Cloud and Rain Art: Give children blue construction paper for water and cotton balls for clouds. They can glue cotton balls onto the top of the paper to represent clouds, then use blue finger paint or crayons to draw raindrops falling from the clouds into the water below. (10-15 minutes)
Movement to Music: Play gentle rain sounds or water-themed music. Ask children to move their bodies like falling raindrops, swerving and jiggling, then settling into a puddle. Encourage light, free movement. (5-10 minutes)
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Recognize key components of the water cycle (cloud, rain, puddle).
Understand that water moves and changes location.
Use new vocabulary related to the water cycle.
Appreciate the importance of water in nature.
"Two Little Raindrops" book or watch the read aloud here
Simple water cycle diagram (from book or printed)
Warm water
Watch the author's engaging read-aloud video of 'Two Little Raindrops' to introduce the story and characters or read the book aloud. (5-10 minutes)
Story Recap and Vocabulary: Discuss the journey of Splish and Splash. Introduce and define key water cycle vocabulary words like 'cloud', 'rain', 'puddle', 'evaporation', 'condensation' using simple terms. Point out these elements in the book's illustrations and diagram. (10-15 minutes)
Water Cycle Storyboard: Using the diagram from the book or a simple one, have children arrange cut-out pictures (sun, cloud, rain, puddle) in the correct order to represent the basic water cycle. Discuss what happens at each stage. (15-20 minutes)
Making a Mini Cloud in a Jar: Demonstrate a simple condensation experiment: fill a clear jar with warm water, cover it with plastic wrap, place ice cubes on top. Observe the 'cloud' forming inside the jar as water vapor condenses. Explain this is how clouds form and rain happens. You will need to wait a bit for the cloud to form. (10-15 minutes)
Raindrop Art & Writing: Provide blue paper cutouts of raindrops. Children can draw or write one thing they learned about rain or water on their raindrop. Display them around the classroom to create a 'rain shower' of knowledge. (10-15 minutes)
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Describe the main stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection.
Identify the role of the sun in the water cycle.
Explain how rain forms and returns to the clouds.
Understand the importance of water conservation and identify ways to save water.
"Two Little Raindrops" book or watch the read aloud and Author Q&A here
Large water cycle diagram (poster or projected) (this can be the one from the book)
Water
Watch the author's engaging read-aloud video of 'Two Little Raindrops' to introduce the story and characters or read the book aloud. (5-10 minutes)
Story Discussion & Initial Concepts: Review the story, focusing on Splish and Splash's journey and how it relates to water moving. Introduce the terms 'evaporation', 'condensation', 'precipitation', and 'collection' as the stages of the water cycle, explaining them simply with the aid of a diagram. (10-15 minutes)
Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author Q&A video and discuss the author's insights into the book and the water cycle. Encourage students to ask their own questions about the story or the science behind it. (25-30 minutes)
Water Cycle in a Bag Experiment: Have students draw a sun, cloud, and ground/water on a clear plastic zip-top bag. Pour a small amount of water into the bag, seal it, and tape it to a sunny window. Observe condensation, 'rain,' and evaporation over a few days, relating it to the water cycle diagram. Discuss observations daily. (15-20 minutes (initial setup, then daily observation))
Water Conservation Brainstorm: Discuss the practical tips to save water mentioned in the book and the importance of water. Brainstorm other ways we can conserve water at school and at home. Create a class poster titled 'Our Water Saving Superpowers' listing these ideas. (10-15 minutes)
Draw Your Own Water Cycle: Students draw their own interpretation of the water cycle, labeling the key stages (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection). Encourage creativity and the use of colors to represent different elements.(15-20 minutes)
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Identify and describe the four main stages of the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection), including the role of the sun.
Understand that the water cycle is a continuous process and its global impact.
Explain the different forms of precipitation (rain, snow, hail, sleet).
Formulate and implement solutions for water conservation in daily life.
"Two Little Raindrops" book or watch the read aloud and Author Q&A here
Detailed water cycle diagram (this can be the one from the book)
Soil
Watch the author's engaging read-aloud video of 'Two Little Raindrops' to introduce the story and characters or read the book aloud. (5-10 minutes)
Review and Expand Water Cycle Vocabulary: Quickly review the story and previous knowledge of the water cycle. Introduce and define advanced vocabulary such as 'transpiration', 'runoff', 'groundwater', and different types of precipitation (snow, hail, sleet) in addition to rain. Discuss how these fit into the continuous cycle. (15-20 minutes)
Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author Q&A video and discuss the author's insights into the book and the water cycle. Encourage students to ask their own questions about the story or the science behind it. (25-30 minutes)
Building a Terrarium Water Cycle Model: Guide students in creating a miniature water cycle model using a clear container, soil, small plants (if available), and water. Cover with plastic wrap and observe daily. Discuss how it mimics the earth's water cycle, including transpiration from plants. (25-30 minutes (initial setup, then daily observation))
Global Water Cycle & Conservation: Discuss the global nature of the water cycle and how water is a finite resource. Revisit water conservation tips from the book and challenge students to develop their own water-saving pledges for home and school, noting practical actions they can take. (15-20 minutes)
Water Cycle Creative Writing: Students write a short story or poem from the perspective of a raindrop, following its journey through the water cycle. They should include at least three stages of the cycle and use descriptive language. (20-25 minutes)
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Identify rain and clouds as parts of nature.
Engage with rhyming patterns and new vocabulary related to water.
Express creativity through art and movement activities.
Develop an early appreciation for water and its role in the natural world.
"Two Little Raindrops" book or watch the read aloud here
Music player with nature-themed or calming music
Optional: Author Q&A video
Watch the author's engaging read-aloud video of 'Two Little Raindrops' to introduce the story and characters or read the book aloud. (5-10 minutes)
Interactive Story Time: Re-read parts of the story with interactive questions: 'What color are the raindrops?', 'Where did they fall from?', 'What sounds did they make?'. Encourage children to make raindrop sounds or actions during the reading.(10-15 minutes)
Cloud and Raindrop Craft: Provide blue paper (to represent water), white paper (for clouds), cotton balls, and glue. Children create their own rainy day scene by gluing cotton balls for clouds and drawing or gluing blue paper raindrops falling from them. (15-20 minutes)
Playdough Water Creations: Give children blue and white playdough. Encourage them to sculpt clouds, raindrops, puddles, or even the sun. Discuss their creations, using simple water-related terms like 'cloud' and 'rain'. (15-20 minutes)
Raindrop Dance Party: Play upbeat, calm, or nature-themed music. Provide blue scarves or fabric strips and encourage children to dance and move like raindrops falling, swirling, and landing in puddles. Emphasize light, free movement and imaginative play. (10-15 minutes)
Water Discovery Bin: Set up a water bin with various tools like scoops, cups, and small toys. Children can explore the properties of water, pouring, scooping, and observing how water behaves in a fun, tactile way. (15-20 minutes)
Optional: Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author Q&A video and discuss the author's insights into the book and the water cycle. Encourage students to ask their own questions about the story or the science behind it. (25-30 minutes) (not included in procedure time estimate)