The resource and vocabulary are quite challenging so the working with some of Year 1 children in a focus group is recommended. That way you can discuss as you complete this activity linked to vocabulary. We have taken some of the lovely vocabulary used in The Secret of Rain and created three resources to help your Year 1 | Year 2 class understand the words used in context of the story as well as looking at a few definitions.

We have differentiated this resource so that you can choose which would best suit your class. We have included a blank template with questions and things to reflect on, as well as multiple choice. I think this book is very appealing to kids. I talks about the courage of one girl and how she saves her village. It talks about different cultures and climates. There are so many ways to use this book and I feel it is something that kids could really relate too.The story is of a girl named Lila who lives in a village in Kenya; where they have not seen rain for several months. The crops are withering, the cattle are suffering, and the heat is so unbearable the villagers cannot do their regular work. When Lila overhears her mother saying that the well has dried up, her worries grow. In desperation, she seeks her grandfather's wisdom about the secret of rain and then leaves her village to try and accomplish the impossible. The Story is about a girl named Lila . She had to stay in her hut because it was like a burning sun. David's most recent picture book The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster was chosen as one of the children's books of the year 2008 by Nicolette Jones of The Sunday Times and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Sheffield Children's Book Award. Shine Moon Shine was chosen as one of the top ten picture books of 2008 by The Bookbag. Lila’s village in Kenya hasn’t seen rain for many weeks. They are afraid that the well will dry up. “Without water there can be no life.” Lila’s grandfather tells her a story a man who told him the secret of rain. “You must climb the highest mountain ... and tell the sky the saddest thing you know.”

Lila and the Secret of Rain is a tale about a Kenyan village that is experiencing a dry spell and the little girl who makes it rain by whispering to the sky. I loved this story because it highlighted a young person who does something difficult and brave for others, rather than just thinking of herself.David Conway is a children's picture book author who has written for Hodder, Random House, Frances Lincoln and Gullane Children's Books. He has been awarded The Peter Pan Silver Star by the Swedish wing of the IBBY and the Parents' Choice Gold Award in the US for Lila and the Secret of Rain. His first picture book The Most Important Gift of All illustrated by Karin Littlewood, was nominated for The Kate Greenaway Medal in 2006. We have differentiated this resource to cater for Y1 and Year 2 classes. Your class will underline the letters that should be capital letters and add in the full stops to punctuate the sentences. Your KS1 class will read through the sentences and decide whether the statements are true or false.

Lila and the secret of rain is all about a young girl who lives in a Kenyan village. It is very hot and the sun burns all day every day. It is so hot all the villagers stay inside during the day. It is too hot to do their chores. The well has dried up because of the heat and the villagers are beginning to worry. Lila's grandfather shares a secret with Lila. Lila goes on a mission to the highest mountain and tells the sky of her saddest times. Nothing seems to work and Lila begins to cry. A breeze begins and the sky begins to change colour. It is full of Lila's sadness. Then the rain begins to fall. The villagers were very happy and celebrated the rain by singing and dancing. Lila and her grandfather now share the secret of rain. Your children can either highlight the adjectives within the sentences or use the word bank to insert the adjectives to complete the sentences. This is a challenging Y2 activity that focuses on homophones and near homophones. Your class will read through the sentences and highlight words that are homophones or they can choose the homophone that completes the sentences. In this activity, we look at how Lila tries (and succeeds) at persuading the sky to stop the sun from shining and start the rain. Discuss and do a project in regard to weather and climate. You could talk about legends and secrets.Her mum and her brother had to stay indoors. Lila had to climb the tallest mountain to save the day. I liked all the discribing words in the book.I like Lila because Lila was crying at the top of the mountain.