Rainy Day Slug

Palenic Colborn,M. (2002). Rainy day slug. Seattle, Washington: Sasquatch Books.

    ISBN-10: 1-57061-591-8

Summary

This book is about a slug’s journey far from home. The funny creative slug gets around while experiencing the outside world. The slug travels through tall green grass, wet window sash, blue rug, and white tile. This book is wonderful: It is filled with color and beautiful illustrations. Young children, will enjoy and see the world from a slug’s perspective.

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Why I would use this book for three to five year olds

I would use this book for 3- 5 years olds for these reasons. First the book has wonderful illustrations and colors that children can engage in. Secondly there is an attractive rhyme and repetition throughout the book. Lastly, it is a book that young children can easily love and understand; while at the same time inspires youngsters to read.

Illustrations

The Illustrations have an amazing variety of big and small pictures. Many of the pictures evoke happiness, wonder, and a sense of warmth as the slug travels in and out of the house. The medium used in the piece is sketch and is hand drawn with color pencil creating an amazing color effect, suggesting a cartoon format. I chose a soft cover for Rainy day slug. I believe children will love this book based on how the story can connect them to Mother Nature and the exploration of the world we live in. I was drawn to this book immediately by the front cover of the slug and for the reason that it is a nice picture book and an enjoyable read. There are not too many words, which makes it easier to teach, and also easier for children to read. I love the way the words are placed and how they move across the page in a sluggish way. The drawing is pleasant and bright and the slug is very appealing, forthcoming, and full of personality. When I was looking for books this one really caught my attention. It is a nice book for children.

How I would build background knowledge and provoke children’s interest

I would build background knowledge and provoke children by simply putting colorful pictures of slugs at the front of the room, and maybe even having puppet as part of the theme. I would ask the children to sit in a circle and introduce their own names to the slug and then ask them to think of a great name to give to the slug. I then would present the children with some knowledge about slugs and the environment they live in, as a way of being funny and interactive by asking questions that would open their curiosity. I would let the children play outside in the rain or sun and ask them to look for the 40 different kinds of slugs. Another way is placing some toy slugs outside and doing a scavenger hunt with the class. I would ask open ended questions about what the children saw when they woke up, if they saw any slimy bugs on there way to school. Using the rain stick before introducing the book is a great idea and provocation by having the sound of rain. Puppet making: It is wonderful to make slug puppets using old yellow or green socks. Children can draw or glue the eyes on the socks and add some yarn or draw some antennas to it. They can also make use of paints, colors, added extras and other articles to attach features to the slime puppet. This creativity is great for developing children’s artistic skills.

Four ways for presenting the story Rainy day slug

Felt board story

 I would have a felt for a slug, blue rug, clock, white tiles, pink drapes, world, rain, window, puddle, bed, table and the boy in the story by using other pieces of color felt to tell the story.

Magic art

I would do a drawing of the story as I read it out loud. I would be precise since timing is crucial using a variety of colored white board markers.

Natural Elements

I would use water, grass, dirt and other natural materials to show the words splash, tall grass, and puddle to create a realistic version of the story, and by using the rain stick to implement sound to the story. All the natural materials would be separated into bowls, with some stand up cards to help guide the story.

Rainy Day Slug Popsicle sticks missing game

I would cut the copied pictures from the book and then laminate them so that it is strong and protected from damage, and then using movement as a way of telling the story. In addition to this, I would be utilizing more than one background by telling the children to fill in the missing shapes on the page, this idea came to me recently from our numeracy class, and I feel this is a great original way to tell the story Rainy day slug. I feel this way of presenting the book adds more appeal for young children reading the story. Before starting the story I could point to the slug and ask the children, “I wonder how the slug is feeling today?” And then pick someone to answer.

Pages of the book I would wonder with children:

On the first two pages I would invite the children by saying, “I wonder where the slug is going, any ideas?” Then I would give them one of my ideas of where I think the slug will go next. On pages 5 and 6 I would pause and perhaps discuss the term puddle and what happens if we step into a mud puddle. On pages 9 and 10 I might talk about positions, and how the slugs is upside down, and maybe ask the children, “Have you every tried being upside down.” Then on pages 17 and 18 I could let the children talk about some of the things we can see in a washroom setting. On pages 25 and 26 I can discuss about the word cheek, and get some of the students to touch their cheeks. On the last page, I would let the children wonder and maybe ask them to reflect by saying “I wonder where the little slug will go next?” 

I feel this is a book that I would not chunk simply because it’s not really a long book. I feel this is a great book to be creative and I can see it filled with post it notes.

A detailed list of three or more possible extensions for learning:

For the first extension, after reading the story I would do a class trip outside, and ask the children if they saw any slugs or other bugs.

For the second extension, I would talk about the weather and rain and how the weather, can change from time to time, and what we can do to keep safe and warm.

For the third extension we can make slug paper paintings.
Painting a slug on paper can provide the child with surprises while feeling the satisfaction of having a painting that could then promote creative thinking with the use of colors.

The forth Extension is doing a remix of the song “The Itsy bitsy spider”

I could do a remake of the song “Itsy bitsy spider” and replace it with word slug.

An example: The little, little slug, went up the water spout, down came the rain and washed the little slug out, out came sun and dried up all the rain, and now the little, little slug went up the spout again. 

The fifth extension would provide optional stories such as the Slug talk written by Gerard T. Wilson, and Sally and Dave a slug story written by Felice Arena

Props and materials

Some of the props I might consider, rain stick, mini shakers, shoe box, white board markers, q cards, felt, laminated version of the story with cut out pieces, and baskets. Optional materials: Shoe box, and scarfs.

Places to buy materials

Thrift store on Kitsilano: I bought my basket and scarf’s from this place. 

Craftworks on Kitsilano: I bought my felt board from this store.

Dollerstore: Where I bought most of my other supplies

Stapples: Great place to get things printed.  

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