Spring brings so many opportunities for sensory rich, hands on learning. This rain drop plop art activity is a simple and engaging way to combine literacy, art, and exploration in your preschool classroom. Today we read Rain Drop Plop! and created colorful umbrella art using droppers and liquid watercolors. This activity invites children to explore cause and effect, color mixing, and creative expression in a playful way.
For this activity, children used droppers to place colorful “raindrops” onto umbrella shapes. The process is just as important as the final result.
I cut the umbrella shapes using my Cricut, but you can easily trace and cut them by hand. The liquid watercolors pooled on the cardstock, which turned into a wonderful learning opportunity.
Instead of trying to control the paint, we embraced it.
Children used coffee filters and paper towels to blot the extra watercolor. This created soft, blended colors and a completely new piece of art for later use.
Our beautiful springy pastel umbrellas and raindrops!
What Children Are Learning
This rain-themed art activity supports so many early learning skills.
- Fine motor development through squeezing droppers
- Hand-eye coordination and control
- Early science concepts like absorption and color blending
- Creativity and open-ended exploration
- Language development through storytelling and conversation
One little guy asked for help filling his dropper. After I filled it, he proudly squeezed the paint onto his umbrella and kept asking, “More, more!”
Another two-year-old repeated, “Upside down, upside down,” while experimenting with how the dropper worked. These moments show how children learn through repetition and discovery.
Turning Blotted Art into Raindrops
After the coffee filters and paper towels dried, we reused them to create raindrop shapes. Cutting and assembling added another layer of fine motor practice and creativity.
This is one of my favorite parts of the raindrop plop art activity. Nothing goes to waste and every piece becomes part of the learning process.
We are even saving our paint-soaked paper towels for future collage or wall hanging projects. Reusing materials not only stretches your supplies but also teaches children about creativity and resourcefulness.
Why This Rain Art Activity Works So Well
This preschool rain art activity is simple to set up but offers rich learning.
Children are not focused on making something perfect. Instead, they are exploring materials, testing ideas, and expressing themselves freely. Process over product.
It also encourages children who may not typically choose to sit down and engage at the art center. The novelty of droppers and watercolor often draws them in.
More Rain Themed Books for Preschoolers
Pairing your rain drop plop art activity with engaging books helps build connections between literacy and play.
Here are a few favorites to explore:
- Hello Puddle! by Anita Sanchez
- Rain by Cynthia Rylant
- The Wonder Of Thunder: Lessons From A Thunderstorm by Sharon Purtill
- In the Rain by Elizabeth Spurr
- Hello, Rain! by Kyo Maclear
Last update on 2026-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
More Rain Activities for Preschool
Extend your rain theme with a variety of hands-on experiences that support curiosity and exploration.
Sensory and Science Ideas
- Set up a rain sensory bin with water, cups, funnels, and droppers
- Explore puddles outdoors and observe reflections
- Measure rainfall using a simple container
You can find more inspiration from NAEYC.
Art and Creative Invitations
- Paint with blue and gray tones using different tools
- Create cloud collages with cotton and recycled materials
- Use spray bottles to mimic rain on paper
Dramatic Play and Movement
A Simple Spring Art Experience with Big Learning
This rain drop plop art activity is a reminder that meaningful learning often comes from simple materials and open-ended experiences.
With just a few supplies, children can explore, create, and build important skills while enjoying the beauty of spring. And those soft pastel umbrellas with layered raindrops make a beautiful display to brighten your classroom.
Wholesale Cute Umbrellas
Thursday 8th of May 2014
That is so cute, i really appreciate the idea.
sunnymama
Thursday 8th of March 2012
These are lovely! Such a good idea to decorate the umbrellas with raindrops. It would be great if you'd like to add this to our Spring Carnival. :)http://sunnydaytodaymama.blogspot.com/2012/02/all-year-round-blog-carnival-spring.html
Maro Oikonomou
Tuesday 6th of March 2012
Great idea!!! Thanks for sharing it with the weather linky party!
Amy A @ Child Central Station
Thursday 2nd of February 2012
Thanks for linking up to the We LOVE Paint linky party over at PreKandK Sharing!
artsy_momma
Sunday 17th of April 2011
Neat idea and so pretty!