A Drop Around the World Barbara McKinney (Author), Michael S. Maydak (Illustrator)
A Drop Around the World
by Barbara McKinney (Author), Michael S. Maydak (Illustrator)
I recently saw a free online movie, Learning to Dance in the Rain, (which is 2 and 1/2 minutes, OK for kids but intended for grown-ups) and was reminded of two excellent books about the water cycle. A drop of rain is a drop of life and it is also the same drop of water for eternity. Barbara Shaw McKinney and illustrator Michael Maydak show us a drop of water as it travels from Maine to Mumbai, and touches plant, animal and human life all around the world. The everlasting water Drop helps children respect water and understand why we need to care about water pollution. After reading this book, children will think about the water cycle every time it rains. We are drinking the same water George Washington drank, and maybe even the same drop of water! Powerful thoughts.
These words may be sun to the tune of Clementine:
- evaporation
- condensation
- precipitation
- (and) collection, all parts of the water cycle, the water cycle, yours and mine
Free water lesson plans are at this link, and the water cycle page could be shown as is to children at home or at school as it includes photos: http://www.bellinghamma.org/Pages/BellinghamMA_DPW/teacherswater.htm
This link is to a list of “watery earth” science curriculum books for teachers in South Carolina: http://www.sciencecompanion.com/for-sc-teachers/resources-by-module/watery-earth-resources/watery-earth-recommended-reading/
Waterdance by Thomas Locker, author and illustrator
Waterdance
by Thomas Locker, author and illustrator
This is the most beautifully illustrated book of the water cycle with dramatic paintings, written and illustrated by Thomas Locker. I once saw a performance of this story as a dance to the story. The students used the text in the book, made paintings on sheets, and acted out the water cycle. They added sound effects for rain and thunder, for a wonderful interpretation of the book. It would be easy to add hand motions and actions to the words in this story for a simple reading response. For children who like to learn big words the scientific name for the water cycle is Hydrologic Cycle.
