Rainbow Day

Objective:
The students will speak and write about a favorite object, while distinguishing between fiction and nonfiction.

Materials

• Each student should have an object brought in from home which is his/her favorite color.
• Paper and Writing utensils

Procedure

1. Allow the students to speak in front of the class about their favorite colored object.  If the class is too large, have them break into pairs and tell their partner about the object.
2. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, have the students write about their object.  Discuss the difference between fiction and nonfiction writing. 
3. Have the students choose what type of writing they would like to do about their object.  They may write a nonfiction piece in which they describe the object, explain how they acquired it, etc.  Those who choose to write a fictional piece may be given the story starter, "My blue (or the appropriate color) _______(object) went looking for a rainbow..."  Younger students may work together to write a fictional story incorporating all of the objects brought into school.  The teacher may record this story on chart paper.

Other Lesson Ideas

1. To expand on the above lesson, review some statements that are fact about rainbows and those that are fiction.  This will help to reinforce the concept of fiction vs. nonfiction.
2. Have a lesson on compound words using "Rainbow" as the starting point.
3. Complete the story starter, "I want to find a ___________ at the end of a rainbow."
4. Read the book, "The Rough-Face Girl" by Rafe Martin.  Within this Native-American Legend book, there are allusions made to the rainbow.  Compare and contrast this book to the story of Cinderella.
5. Learn to sign the colors using the following link American Sign Language Browser.