Combine math charts with biology by helping children chart pictures of the animals that live in water and those that live outside water. Use waterproof bingo markers to make a rain scene, and help preschoolers count each raindrop. Play a matching game with ducks in a pool; each small rubber duck will have a number on the bottom. Nearby, place a table with small prizes or healthy snacks. The preschooler will pick a duck, look at the number, then pick out the coinciding number of treats or toys.
Help children tell a story by printing out pictures of people in water with empty word bubbles. Ask the children what the people are saying, and fill in the word bubbles with the preschooler's ideas. Gather plenty of water, rain and mud puddle books in the literacy area. Distribute rain drops drawn with dotted lines for scissor practice. Help children recognize sight words such as "wet" and "drop."
Give the children bins of water, buckets and sieves. Talk about how the water acts in the sieve and how it acts in the bucket. Encourage children to try to hold the water in their hands. Talk about where the water goes when it is held in the hand. Dip cotton balls into the water and discuss what happens. Use plastics, paper, cloth and other materials to discover how each material feels different after being dipped in the water.
Help children understand how rain falls from clouds. Look at clouds outside and talk about the difference between white clouds and gray clouds. Discuss whether rain comes from the white clouds or the gray clouds. Play "Sink or Swim," where you provide different materials and test them to see if they sink in the water or float on top. Place ice on a table in a bowl and observe it throughout the day to find out what happens to ice when it gets warm.