The Rain Stick That Melts Us

Children are snowmen standing very still; the teacher walks past with a rain stick, and while they hear the rain nearby they slowly melt until they are lying down. They practice relaxing, hearing a sound come closer and move away, and controlling their bodies slowly.

How to play

1. Standing and spread out, each child is a snowman: stiff arms, firm legs, very still (1 min).
2. The teacher turns the rain stick in the middle and explains, "When the rain sounds close to you, you start to melt" (1 min).
3. With eyes closed, the teacher walks around with the rain stick; any child who hears it close lets their head drop, then their arms, then bends their knees (2 min).
4. When the sound moves away, the snowman stays as it is; when it comes back, it melts a little more, until it's lying flat like a puddle (2 min).
5. Now we're puddles: listen to the last soft rain and breathe slowly (1 min).

Rules

• We only melt when the rain sounds close.
• Melt slowly, never drop all at once.
• Puddles are still and quiet.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: melts in the chair or starts sitting on the floor.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher adds a gentle tap on the shoulder when the rain is close.
• Autism: let them know the teacher will walk close by and ask if they'd rather not be touched.

Learning goals

• Relax the body step by step.
• Notice a sound coming closer and moving away.
• Lower themselves to the floor with slow control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• palo de lluvia: 1

Teacher tip

Turn the rain stick very slowly so the sound lasts. If you don't have one, make one from a cardboard tube capped at both ends with a spiral of foil and rice inside, sealed tightly with tape.

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