Nursery Rhymes and Fables: Supplemental Guide 2B | It’s Raining, It’s Pouring 47- After hearing today’s poems and questions and answers, do you have
any remaining questions? [If time permits, you may wish to allow for
individual, group, or class research of the text and/or other resources
to answer these remaining questions.]
Sayings and Phrases: It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
- Tell students that proverbs are short, traditional sayings that have
been passed along orally for many, many years. These sayings usually
express general truths based on experiences and observations of
everyday life. Although some proverbs do mean exactly what they
say, many proverbs have a deeper meaning. It is important to help
students understand the difference between the literal meanings of
the words and their implied or figurative meanings. - Ask students: “Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘It’s raining cats and
dogs?’” Explain that people use this saying when it is raining very
hard or pouring. It does not mean that real cats and real dogs are
falling from the sky! - Have students repeat, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” with you three
times. - Tell students that instead of saying, “I got really wet as soon as I went
outside because it was pouring,” they could say, “I got really wet as
soon as I went outside because it was raining cats and dogs.” - Ask students, “Have you ever seen it really rain cats and dogs?”
- Ask students, “Have you been outside when it was raining cats and
dogs? What was that like?” - Encourage students to use this saying any day that it is pouring or
“raining cats and dogs.”
Extending the Activity
➶ Above and Beyond: Have students fold a piece of white paper in
half. On one side, draw what it might look like if it rained real cats
and real dogs. On the other side, draw what it might look like when
someone says, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”