Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go as planned? Well, that’s exactly what happens in It’s Raining Bats and Frogs! This whimsical story is full of unexpected turns, as a witch named Delia finds herself trying to save her parade from being ruined by rain—but things quickly get out of hand when her magic goes awry. It’s the perfect book to bring some humor, creativity, and problem-solving into your classroom.
So, let’s jump into this enchanting tale and discover how we can use It’s Raining Bats and Frogs to spark laughter, learning, and some creative thinking in our students!
Brief Summary of It’s Raining Bats and Frogs
In It’s Raining Bats and Frogs, we follow a young witch named Delia who is all set for the annual Witch Parade, only for the day to be spoiled by heavy rain. Unwilling to let the rain ruin the fun, Delia decides to use her magic to change the rain into something else—first bats, then cats, and eventually frogs! While the magical rain is fun at first, it causes more chaos than expected. As the story unfolds, Delia learns that sometimes, you just have to embrace things as they are—rain and all!
Why I Love Teaching It’s Raining Bats and Frogs
What I adore about It’s Raining Bats and Frogs is how it introduces creative problem-solving in such a fun way. It encourages students to think outside the box while reminding them that not everything can or should be “fixed.” I’ve taught this book to many classes, and each time, the students are captivated by Delia’s magical mishaps. I also love how it taps into themes of resilience and flexibility—two important life lessons that kids can grasp through Delia’s story.
One year, I had a class where students were constantly frustrated when things didn’t go perfectly during our art lessons. After reading It’s Raining Bats and Frogs, we had a great discussion about how it’s okay when things don’t turn out the way we planned. We even made a class motto: “Sometimes a little mess makes magic!”
Activities for It’s Raining Bats and Frogs
- Creative Weather Magic
Let your students step into Delia’s shoes with this activity where they get to control the weather! Ask students to imagine they had Delia’s magic and could change the rain into something fun. Activity Directions (for students): If you could change rain into anything, what would it be? Draw a picture of your magical rain and write a sentence explaining what it would be and why. (Bonus points for creativity!) - Problem and Solution
Delia’s magic causes all sorts of problems, from bats crowding the skies to frogs leaping everywhere! This activity focuses on understanding the problem Delia creates and how she ultimately solves it. Activity Directions (for students): What problem does Delia create when she changes the rain? How does she solve it by the end of the story? Draw a picture of the problem and the solution. - Writing Prompt: “When It Rains…”
Encourage students to get creative with this fun writing prompt where they imagine what would happen if it rained something silly at school.Activity Directions (for students): Imagine you’re at school, and it starts raining something other than water—like toys or candy! What would you do? Write a short story about your adventure with this magical rain. - Character Feelings Map
Delia goes through a rollercoaster of emotions in It’s Raining Bats and Frogs. This activity helps students track her emotions throughout the story, making it a great social-emotional learning opportunity.Activity Directions (for students): How does Delia feel at the beginning, middle, and end of the story? Draw pictures to show her emotions at each part.
Brief Lesson Plan
Here’s a simple lesson plan you can follow after reading It’s Raining Bats and Frogs:
- Objective: Students will explore problem-solving, character emotions, and creative writing using the text It’s Raining Bats and Frogs.
- Materials: Copies of It’s Raining Bats and Frogs, paper, pencils, markers, and scissors.
- Activities:
- Creative Weather Magic: Students create their own magical rain ideas through drawing and writing.
- Problem and Solution chart: Identify the story’s central conflict and resolution.
- Character Feelings Map: Track Delia’s feelings and how they change over the course of the story.
Final Thoughts
It’s Raining Bats and Frogs is a delightful, imaginative story that never fails to capture students’ attention. It’s a great way to introduce lessons about flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving while also providing plenty of opportunities for interactive, hands-on activities. Whether you’re using it to spark a fun writing prompt or to teach a lesson on emotional regulation, this book is packed with teachable moments.
If you haven’t yet added It’s Raining Bats and Frogs to your classroom library, I highly recommend it! Your students will love it, and you’ll love the creativity and laughter it brings to your lessons. Be sure to share how you use this story in your class—I’d love to hear your ideas!
Are you looking for a low-prep, engaging, and differentiated resource to save your hours of planning and provide a whole week of Halloween activities? My TPT resource to go along with It’s Raining Bats and Frogs has you covered! With creative activities like writing prompts and problem-solving tasks, it’s perfect for boosting comprehension and SEL skills – all while keeping your students entertained. Click HERE or the image below to learn more!
In my TPT store you will find a growing bundle of Halloween read-alouds that includes 5 engaging books plus a bonus cauldron writing craft, all for the price of less than two individual units! A new book is added each week, ensuring you’ll have fresh, fun activities leading up to Halloween. Perfect for encouraging students to interact with the stories in meaningful and creative ways! Click the image below to learn more:
