It’s raining, it’s pouring…but that’s what we expect in April, right? Luckily, I thought ahead and prepared all sorts of rainy day songs and activities for my students. Here are just a few of my favorites for rainy April days like this.
One staple of every classroom music therapy session at my school is the weather song. (If you’ve joined my newsletter, then you’ve already received a free download of my weather album.) Today’s song, of course, will be “Rainy Day” — or “Pitter Patter” as everyone around here calls it.
Pitter patter, pitter patter
Down comes the rain today
Clouds are forming in the sky,
Inside we’ll have to stay.
Thunder crashes, boom boom boom!
We see lightning too.
Don’t go outside,
Until the storm is through.
This picture book has been a staple in my collection of singable stories for years now. The illustrations that accompany the added verses about the old man are cute and funny, and the song is familiar to almost everyone.
And there are plenty of great songs out there about rainy days. At the top of my list are Leaky Umbrella by Jim Gill, Raindrop Pop by Bobs & LoLo, and The Raindrop Song from Barney. I also like to sing about rainbows throughout the month of April; one particular fave is We Are the Colors of the Rainbow by Holly Brook & Candy K.
And I can’t forget instruments! I’ll be pulling out my rainsticks, chiquitas, and thunder drums this month. Now it’s your turn: what are your favorite songs, books, and activities for rainy April days?
Thank you for the resources. I’ll be tagging you in an upcoming newsletter.
You’re welcome, JoAnn! That’s great – thanks a lot :D
I love “Leaky Umbrella” – in fact, I’m using that with my kiddos this week!
Other than that, I do a thunderstorm improvisation with my older clients with rainsticks, ocean drums, thunder tubes, recorders, etc. Also, I like to use “Big Thunder, Dark Cloud” by Jack Grunsky with lower functioning or younger clients to make the improvisation more structured. I’ve also used the book “Listen to the Rain” by Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault as a singable story/sound story with shakers, ocean drums, & rainsticks. I also wrote a song called “Raindrop Parade”, where we tiptoe & stomp all through the hallways, depending on if we are little or big raindrops!
You are so creative, Kristen! I am totally going to check out that book – thanks! Your students are lucky ducks to have such an awesome music therapist.