Lesson #1: Weather Folklore: Rhyme or Reason?

Overview

In this lesson students will be introduced to weather rhymes and sayings that are part of American folklore.  Based on what the students have learned about weather, they will try to determine whether or not the rhymes have any validity and could be used to foretell weather. They will write and illustrate their own weather rhymes.

Objectives

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Use prior knowledge to respond to literature
• Use a wide range of language experiences for developing awareness and knowledge of weather
• Generate questions, opinions and conclusions
• Use written communication for a specific purpose
• Use their own innovations to create rhymes based on a pattern

Materials

• A January Fog Will Freeze A Hog by Hubert Davis (Crown, 1977). This illustrated collection for children of thirty American weather folklore poems has endnotes, which explain the scientific basis for many of the rhymes. Links to web sites that have additional folklore sayings may be found in the sites listed at the bottom of this page.
• A selection of rhymes from the book (or other source), each written on a separate index card
• Writing and drawing materials for students
   

Time: Approximately one hour for steps #1 - #6 

Procedure

1. Introduce the lesson by telling the students that people used to make up sayings and rhymes in their efforts to predict weather. Ask the students to share any that they might have heard.
2. Read them the following examples:
    

   • Dark clouds in the west, stay home and rest.
     Wind in the west, suits everyone best
      
   • Rainbow at night, sailors' delight
     Rainbow in morning, sailors' warning.
      
   • When crickets' chirps grow loud and strong
     A storm will rage before too long.
      
   • If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.
     But if it comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.
      
   • If a ground hog sees its shadow on February 2, there will be 40 more days of winter.

   
    
3. Ask: Why do you think people believed these sayings? Based on your personal experiences and observations, do you think any of them could be true and could be used to foretell the weather?
4. Read aloud A January Fog Will Freeze a Hog. Invite students' responses and comments about the book.
5. Optional: Have students explore the web sites linked below to find additional sayings.
6. Divide class into groups of two or three students and give each group an index card with a short rhyme from the book (or other source) to analyze.  They should decide what the rhyme means and whether or not, based on what they know about weather, there is any validity to it.
7. Gather back together as a class and give groups a chance to share their conclusions.
8. Students will work in groups or as individuals to compose and illustrate their own weather rhymes. 
9. The students will post their rhymes in the Student Area.

Reference

Weather folklore sites:

•  

  Storm FAX
  Weather Folklore