Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Flooding

What is a “flood”?

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is normally dry. Floods occur when there is more water in a river, lake, or stream than the body of water can hold. The excess water floods onto land. Floods occur frequently when there is excess rain and when the ground is saturated and cannot hold more water. Flooding is the most common natural disaster worldwide. Flooding occurs in rural and urban areas. We are currently experiencing flooding across much of Iowa. Heavy rainfall has contributed to saturated soils and high water levels in streams, rivers, and lakes.

Make a Rain Gauge

Materials:

Clear Jar

Ruler

Paint

Process:

Place jars outside in an open area before it rains. After it has rained measure the amount of rain in each jar. Alternatively you can paint a ruler on the side of each jar and have children decorate their jars.

Create a chart for your class to track the amount of rain you receive at your school. Compare your amounts to your local news station.

Make a Rain Stick Materials:

Paper Towel Roll

Tape that can be painted

Paint

Glue

Uncooked Rice

Toothpicks

Process:
Pre-poke holes into the side of the paper towel rolls. Have children poke toothpicks through the holes and glue each end of the tooth pick. Next- tape one end of the roll closed. Add rice and tape the other end. Then let the children paint their sticks as they choose. Last, cut off the toothpicks that stick out from the tube.

Rain Songs

“It is Raining” (Sung to "Frere Jacques")

It is raining, It is raining,
On my head, on my head.
Pitter, patter raindrops,
Pitter, patter raindrops,
I'm all wet, I'm all wet!

“Rain Song” (Sung to: "If you're happy and you know it")

First a little drop of rain hit the ground, (Tap, Tap)
Then another drop of rain hit the ground, (Tap, Tap)
Then another and another and another and another,
And pretty soon we heard a different sound. (Splash! Splash!)

“Fun in the Rain” (Sung to: "Deck the Halls")
Do you hear the pitter patter? Hear the little raindrops falling down.
Can you see the splashing water? All the little raindrops on the ground.
Time to get our big umbrellas We don't want to get our hair all wet.
If you wear your boots and raincoat, We will go outside and splash a bit!

Book List

Bauer, M. D., and J. Wallace. 2008. Flood! Simon Spotlight.

Berger, M., R. Sullivan, and G. Berger. 1999. Can It Rain Cats and Dogs?: Questions & Answers about Weather. Scholastic, Inc.

Branley, F.M. 1997. Down Comes the Rain. HarperCollins Children's Books.

Capeci, A., and S. Haefele. 2003. Flash Flood (Magic School Bus Series – To The Rescue. Scholastic, Inc.

Cosgrove, B. 2004. Weather (DK Eyewitness Book Series). DK Publishing, Inc.

Evans, L., and C. Jabar. 1997. Rain Song. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Fourment, T. 2004. My Water Comes from the Mountains. Roberts Rinehart Publishers.

Gibbons, G. 1992. Weather Words and What They Mean. Holiday House, Inc.

Hopping, L. J., and J. Wheeler. 2000. Floods! Scholastic, Inc.

Johnson, J., and B. Johnson. 2011. The Little Toad And The Big Flood. Two Peas Publishing.

Locker, T. 2003. Cloud Dance. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.