Weather of Your Dreams

1. Record weather conditions over an extended period. Research various types of weather and the effects they have on the environment. Imagine what the world would be like if weather were made of things other than water or wind. Read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or other books about the weather, foods, and/or dreams.
2. Picture in your mind what you would like to see raining down around you. What weather would fulfill your dreams?
3. Cover a tabletop with recycled newspaper. Trim the edges from a recycled foam produce tray with Crayola® Scissors. On the tray, draw your imaginary "rain" with a Crayola Colored Pencil. Press firmly, so the line presses deeply into the foam.
4. Apply Crayola Washable Watercolors with a paint brush to the foam tray. While the paint is still wet, turn the tray over on watercolor paper. Press firmly and evenly. Carefully lift the tray. You will see a colorful image with a line drawing of the imaginary rain on your paper.
5. Repeat step 4 and print the image randomly over the paper surface. Dry.
6. On a second piece of paper, paint a figure of yourself enjoying the weather. When dry, cut out the figure and attach to the printed weather background with a Crayola Washable Glue Stick.

LA: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

LA: Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).

LA: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

LA: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade level topic or subject area.

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.

MATH: Represent and interpret data.

SCI: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.

SCI: Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.

VA: Use visual structures of are to communicate ideas.

VA: Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.

Possible classroom resources include: The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting (Williamson Kids Can! Series) by Mark Breen & Kathleen Friestad; The Best Book of Weather (Best Books of) by Simon Adams; Weather by Seymour Simon; National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Blow You Away y Kathy Furgang; Eye Wonder: Weather by DK Publishing

Students use the same artistic technique an draw a rainforest or a desert on a foam tray, painting themselves in the picture. Students compose an original short story about what they are doing in the rainforest.

Using a foam tray, students draw a single object and print that object several times using different colors. Layer the prints on or near each other. Students paint themselves into the layered environment. What are they doing in each scene?

Students illustrate weather from each of the four seasons on four trays. Print them side by side and write a 1-2 sentence description for each scene.