First Clouds, Then Rain, Then a Rainbow

Children act out how the weather changes on a stormy afternoon, always in the same order: clouds, wind, rain, puddles and rainbow. It works on the sequence of a story and before and after.

How to play

1. Sitting down, the teacher tells the storm in order: first the clouds come, then the wind blows, next it rains, puddles are left, and last a rainbow comes out (2 min).
2. Clouds: walk slowly, puffed up and soft; wind: spin and sway with your scarf (2 min).
3. Rain: the drum makes raindrops and we do quick little hops; puddles: jump from puddle to puddle with both feet (2 min).
4. Rainbow: with the colored scarves, make one big arch together, standing and holding hands (2 min).
5. Do the whole storm start to finish, with the drum marking each change (2 min).
6. The teacher mixes up the order (“Rainbow before the clouds!”), children fix it, and we do it right again (2 min).

Rules

• I do each part when the teacher tells it.
• I don't hit anyone with my scarf.
• We make the rainbow together.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: does the storm with arms and scarf in place and is part of the rainbow.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds up a card for each part as well as using the drum.
• Autism: warn that the rain part is loud and let them do it with their hands instead of jumping.

Learning goals

• Act out a sequence of changes in order.
• Use the words first, next and last.
• Show weather through movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored scarves: 25
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Hand out the scarves right before the wind, not at the start, so they don't play with them during the explanation. Kids tend to stomp hard for rain; remind them raindrops are small and fall softly.

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