Pitter-Patter Rain!
Rain happens when water droplets in clouds get heavy enough to fall to the ground. Rain can be a light drizzle (tiny drops that barely get you wet) or a heavy downpour (big drops that soak you in seconds!).
Rain is very important for our planet. It fills rivers and lakes, gives plants the water they need to grow, and provides drinking water for people and animals. Without rain, the world would be a desert!
But when you are going outside in the rain, you need special gear to stay dry. Getting wet and cold can make you uncomfortable, and if you stay wet for a long time in cold weather, your body temperature can drop, which is not healthy.
The key to rainy day dressing is WATERPROOF materials. Waterproof means water cannot pass through the fabric. Regular cotton clothes soak up water like a sponge, but waterproof materials like rubber, nylon, and Gore-Tex keep the water out.
**Fun Fact:** The smell of rain on dry ground has a name — it is called petrichor! It comes from oils released by plants and bacteria in the soil when rain first starts falling.