"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain

Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as if sheltering from the rain. It builds rhythm, creative movement and pretend play with folk songs.

How to play

1. Sitting down, the teacher sings "Que llueva, que llueva" (a Spanish rhyme asking for rain, with little birds singing and clouds rising) and we talk about what we do when it rains (2 min).
2. Standing with the fabric, we make rain with tiny hand shakes while singing the first part (2 min).
3. On "los pajaritos cantan" (the little birds sing) we lift the fabric slowly like wings; on "las nubes se levantan" (the clouds rise) we lift it very high (2 min).
4. At the end we shout "¡Sí, sí, que llueva!" (Yes, let it rain!) and the color the teacher calls hides under the cloud while the others make rain on top (3 min).
5. Sing one last time very softly, like rain going away, and lay the fabric on the ground (1 min).

Rules

• We make gentle rain, not a storm.
• Under the cloud, we stay crouched.
• When the song ends, we go back to our spot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair can also go under the cloud if the group lifts the fabric higher.
• Autism: let the child choose whether to go under or stay outside making rain.
• Visual impairment: children underneath feel the rain on the fabric with raised hands, and we describe what's happening.

Learning goals

• Act out with body and fabric what a song describes.
• Learn a folk song from children's tradition.
• Adjust movement to changes in rhythm and intensity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Rainbow parachute: 1

Teacher tip

If your class doesn't know Spanish, "Rain, Rain, Go Away" works with the same structure. Let children who know the song sing it while you lead the movements.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary