Lightning, Thunder and Rain Indoors

Each sound on the hand drum is part of the storm: fingertips for rain, rubbing for wind, a sharp hit for lightning and a drumroll for thunder, and each has its own move. Children listen, tell the sounds apart and answer with their bodies, turning storm noises into something fun instead of scary.

How to play

1. The teacher plays the four sounds on the drum and shows each move: rain, tiptoe walking; wind, slow turns with arms spread; lightning, freeze in a zigzag; thunder, stomping in place (3 min).
2. Practice each sound one at a time so everyone learns the moves (2 min).
3. The teacher mixes them up with no warning and children switch moves as soon as they hear a new sound (2 min).
4. Full storm: it starts with rain, builds with wind and thunder, a few lightning bolts strike, then gentle rain slowly returns (2 min).
5. Taking turns, a child plays the drum and makes the storm for the others (2 min).
6. The storm leaves: the rain gets softer and softer and we finish sitting down, listening to the silence (1 min).

Rules

• Listen carefully before you move.
• Thunder stomps happen in your own spot, no pushing.
• With lightning, freeze in a zigzag.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing impairment: show a color card with each sound, or the child rests a hand on the drum to feel the vibration.
• Sound sensitivity or fear of storms: play softer thunder and let the child be the drummer.
• Limited mobility: do all four moves with the arms and trunk from a chair.

Learning goals

• Tell different sounds apart and answer with a movement.
• Switch quickly from one movement to another.
• Handle fear of storms by playing with them.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Make the sounds very different at first; over time you can make them more alike. Thunder stomps are loud, so give a heads-up to any class below you.

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