Rain before Rainbows (e-) - Words And Pictures Library

Notes

Synopsis	A story told in rhyming couplets about hope over fear and that good comes after bad.
Lesson Access	via url-link or QR-Code
Equipment for child	tablet, phone or laptop, internet connection, perhaps headphones
Materials	dictionary (online or paper), craft materials
Language Skills	listening, vocabulary (verbs), speaking (read aloud)
Cross-curricular Links	art, science
Values	resilience, friendship and positivity
World Event Day	National Find A Rainbow Day; National Day of Hope

©Ellis, G. & Gruenbaum, T. for PEPELT 2020

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and illustrated by David Litchfield published by Walker Books 2020

Video © Peters Storytime in Partnership with Walker Books

Step 1: Look at the Cover

Step 1 of 5

Notice	What do you see on the front cover? What do you notice about the fox? Where do you think they are? Where are the fox and the girl sitting?
Personalise	Have you ever seen a rainbow? Where was it? How do rainbows make you feel?
Personalise	Have you ever seen a fox? Where and at what time of the day?
Translanguage	Find three adjectives to describe a fox in your language and in English
Predict	Why do you think the girl and the fox are together?
Think	What do you think ‘rain before rainbows’ and ‘clouds before sun’ mean?
Check	Look up the meaning of these words: to creep in, to duel, to sow.

Step 2 + Step 3: Listen and Watch

Step 2/3 of 5

Part A	Listen and watch for general understanding and enjoyment.
Part B	Listen and watch again and answer the questions, pause and replay when you need to.
	What is the girl looking back at? How do you think the girl and the fox feel?
	What do the fox and the girl climb? Why?
	What type of dreams does the girl have?
	How do dark days make the girl feel? Do they make you feel the same way?
	Who do the girl and the fox fight against in dark days?
	From 0.55 – 1.22 Smriti Halls reads in a louder and faster voice. How does this make you feel?
	What sound does thunder make? What actions do the lightening, the wind and the waves make?
	What helps you when you are in trouble?
	Which friends help the girl and the fox?
	What can you find with the help of friends?
	What happens in the story after a dark day filled with clouds and rain?
	How do the colours change during the story? How do they make you feel? What kind of ending do the colours suggest?

Step 4: Add your Voice

Step 4 of 5

Review & Make Notes	Watch again and write down or draw the different types of weather you can see. Which type of weather is your favourite? Why?
Review & read along	Read along with the author as she reads the beginning of the story. Can you hear which words rhyme? Rain before rainbows Clouds before sun. Night before daybreak. The old day is done.
Remember	Can you remember any other words from the story which rhyme?
Create	Do you know any words which rhyme with fox? Can you create a rhyme with your rhyming words?
Research	The rainbow has 7 colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Do you know why?
Think	During the Covid-19 pandemic, many children have been drawing pictures of rainbows and displaying them in their windows. Do you know why? Have you drawn a rainbow?
Think	What does the rainbow mean for you? Can you see a connection between the rainbow and the feelings of the girl in the story?
Crafts	What would your own rainbow look like if you could choose your own colours? Draw, paint or make a collage.
Think	What do you think is the message of this story?
Your Opinion	Which is your favourite part of the story? Why?

Step 5: Share and Evaluate your work

Step 5 of 5

Share	Send your work to your teacher or share in your virtual classroom.
Evaluate	Complete the evaluation sheet to reflect on your learning.

Teacher Notes Evaluation Form

Need Help ?

Part A: Read and complete. You can write or say your answers. You can do this on your own, in pairs or in a class discussion.

Part B: Think about how well you did. Choose and draw the smiley face that fits best.

Want More?

Have you ever been out in the countryside at night? How does it make you feel? Draw a picture of the countryside at night.

At the end of the story we see the plant growing process. Sowing and planting. Roots before shoot. Stem before flower. Leaf before fruit. Choose a fruit or vegetable from your own country and draw and label its growing stages from seed to fruit or vegetable.

Watch the video of children in the UK drawing rainbows during the April 2020 lockdown (https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/parenting/families-painting-rainbows-windows-spread-17964109) Draw your own ‘keep safe’ rainbow.

Learn Sign Language with Leanne

If you enjoyed the read aloud, why not learn some Sign Language. Watch Leanne sign Rain before Rainbows and learn how to sign: rain, rainbow, clouds and sun.