A guide for using our resources

Students will identify facts about rainbows.

Vocabulary: droplets, mist, moonbow, solar systems

Science Focus: rainbows, light

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 key details; RF.1.3 phonics and word analysis; SL.1.1 collaborative conversations; L.1.6 use new vocabulary

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• This story encourages thinking like a scientist to solve a fun mystery! Two kids stumble upon rainbows and set out to find the source.

• After reading the article, go back in to hunt for the exclamation and question marks. Students can use two diff erent colored markers to circle their finds.

• Use a whiteboard or large paper and draw a bubble chart with the word rainbows in the middle. Ask students to think about what they already know about rainbows. Guide the discussion by asking: When might you see a rainbow? Can you touch a rainbow? What colors do you see in a rainbow? Record student ideas in the chart. After reading the article, look at the bubble chart again. Ask students what they learned about rainbows and add more ideas to the chart.

Skills: Writing, drawing

Materials: rainbow skills sheet, crayons, pencil

• Students will imagine hiding a prized possession at the end a rainbow - just like a leprechaun!
• Pass out the skills sheet and ask students to think about an item that is really special to them. What would they want to hide at the end of a rainbow?
• Students will write a sentence about their special item at the top of the skill sheet. Then they can draw a picture of their idea in the cloud at the end of the rainbow.
• Give students crayons to color their picture.
• Then students can read the word on the rainbow and fi nd the crayon that matches. They can color the rainbow in the correct order.