1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. f_rain.txt File Contents

f_rain.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >



Raining Cats

Have you ever heard the expression, "It's raining cats and dogs"? This expression is used to describe a terrible rain storm. Do you think it ever really rains cats and dogs? Well, it does sometimes. In fact, sometimes it also rains fish and trees. This happens when a giant tornado picks up animals and plants, sucks them up into the clouds, and then drops them somewhere else.

There is a clever tall tale, that may be based on this expression, "it's raining cats and dogs," which describes a terrible storm. The author, Judi Barrett, imagines that if it could rain cats and dogs, why not rain hamburgers, malts, apples, and perhaps some spaghetti and meatballs? In Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, she takes the idea that it can rain all sorts of foods in some interesting, delicious and frightening ways.

Read the story, if available, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and discuss it with your friends. Brainstorm the kinds of foods you'd love and hate to see falling out of the sky. Then type your list of foods at the <  > angle brackets below.

Foods We'd Love to See Raining from the Sky

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Foods We'd Hate to See Raining from the Sky

<  >

Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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Now brainstorm all of the things that could go wrong if it were actually raining food.

Things That Could Go Wrong If It Were Raining Food

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Now write your own story about the day when it began raining food: apples and oranges, lasagna and salad, or pork chops and mashed potatoes.

Begin typing at the <  > angle brackets below.  

The day it rained <  >


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Rewrite/Edit

Now go back and read what you wrote. Can you add more details to your story? You may want to add one or two more sentences.

Then make sure your sentences are complete; check your spelling and punctuation.

When you are happy with your writing, share your story with some classmates, and see what ideas they have for making your tall tale taller and more fun. Have them read it on-screen. List their best ideas for rewriting your story below at the <  > marker.

Classmates' Ideas for Improving My Tall Food Tale

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Using your classmates' best ideas, scroll back up to your story and revise it. Then you may want to share your new, improved Tall Food Tale with them.

You can print just your final Tall Food Tale for this purpose.


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
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