The Sun, the Wind, and the Rain is a geology-based story, written by author Lisa Westburg Peters to help children understand the process of mountain building. The selection contrasts two very different perspectives in time to get this point across. Featured in the foreground of each page is Elizabeth, a little girl who uses an afternoon at the beach to make a mountain out of sand. In the background, behind Elizabeth, we see another mountain being built, eroded, and reformed, by the processes of nature, over a period of eons. Much of the story is told through Ted Rand's brilliant illustrations, so you'll want to examine them with your child as you read the selection, The Sun, the Wind, and the Rain together.

Your child can review and practice vocabulary list words with the games I have linked below. Just click on the Java Games link in the Quia activities section and it will take you directly to the games choices page. It may be helpful to print out the list of terms (vocabulary list words and definitions used in the games) from the games choices page so your child can refer to them as needed during practice.