Grades
1 - 5
Have Fun as a Class on a Rainy Day With This Art Activity
Celebrate drizzly weather with books about rain and a themed art project.
Some students may moan and groan on a rainy day because they don't get to play outside. But with the rain splattering against the classroom windows and the sound of thunder in the distance, it’s a great opportunity for making art!
Elementary teacher Nancy Jang loves to celebrate rainy weather with an art project that’s easy to do and has a huge visual impact. In Jang’s lesson, students use multiple mediums such as crayons, watercolors, and a photo to create an eye-popping, gorgeous, rainy day fantasy portrait. Here’s how to get started.
Begin With Rainy Day Reads
Get your students ready to create their art with these colorful picture books that celebrate rainy days.
$5.21$6.95
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$4.49$5.99
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$5.21$6.95
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$2.99$3.99
save to wishlistRainy Day Art Lesson
Step 1: Take a picture of each of your students on a plain light-colored background with one of their arms sticking out as if they are holding an imaginary umbrella. Print the pictures in black and white on 8.5" x 11" paper. You can print up to four pictures on a single page to save ink.
Step 2: Direct each student to draw a large umbrella and gray rain clouds using crayons on a blank piece of paper. They should also draw small lines using light blue or white or gray crayon to create rain drops. Students can include puddle shapes on the ground and elements such as lightning or a rainbow, if desired. Color using dark hues.
Step 3: Have students use blue, purple, and/or black watercolor paints to fill in the background of the picture.
Step 4: Cut out each student’s photograph and glue under the umbrella so that it looks like the student is holding the umbrella. Ta-da! The magical rainy day portraits are now complete!
Be sure to also check out these must-have books to teach about weather.
Shop more books about rain below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
$5.21$6.95
save to wishlistYoung meteorologists will learn what causes lightning and thunder, how rain falls from the clouds, the different types of lightning, why they see lightning before they hear thunder, and much more.
$3.71$4.95
save to wishlistBut where does rain come from? The answer is at your fingertips. Just open this book and read about the wonders of rain.
$3.00$4.00
save to wishlistLearn about rain, where it comes from, and why it's important.
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save to wishlistWhile children splash in puddles above, down below an earthworm delights in a rainy day. The lively comparison will delight preschoolers.
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save to wishlistIn this lyrical picture book, one spunky little girl discovers just who likes rain—and who doesn't—as she explores the rainy-day habits of the world around her.
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save to wishlistNo matter the elements: spring rain, sunshine, falling leaves, or snow, there's fun to found in this rhyming picturebook.
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save to wishlistWhen the air gets heavy and dark clouds drift low over the fields of Grandma's farm, her frightened granddaughter hides under the bed.
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save to wishlistThere's nothing to do on a rainy day or so Ally thinks. But Mama says she's seen something amazing, so despite Ally's misgivings, she sets out on an adventure with her mother and grandmother.
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