Rain and Water Play Day

LESSON 1

Children explore rain and water through play, exploration, and questioning, fostering curiosity and connection with nature. 

  • Rain or water gear

  • Gather any other materials you want to use for your outdoor water day (see lesson plan for ideas).

Materials

  • If possible, choose a rainy day for outdoor exploration, or a warm day for water play.

  • Gather materials for play activities of choice. 

Preparations

  • Guide children in exploring their understanding of rain and water by asking open-ended questions and encouraging discussion.

  • Provide opportunities for children to engage in outdoor play activities.

  • Create a supportive environment for children to express their creativity through art and imaginative play with rain and water. 

Objectives for Teachers

Objectives for Children

  • Children express their curiosity about rain or water through questioning and inquiry-based learning.

  • Children engage in sensory exploration during outdoor rainy-day activities.

  • Children engage in imaginative play through activities like puddle jumping and mud kitchen play, fostering creativity and self-expression. 

Collect and Connect

Create actions and practice saying or singing the poem “Rainy Day” together.

Rainy Day

Rain, rain, come today! 

In my garden you can play. 

All the flowers in their places, 

You can wash their petal faces.  

Give a drink to all the trees. 

Make some splashy puddles, please. 

And rain, rain, upon the lawn, 

For ducky’s got his raincoa

Activity Flow

  1. Start off this unit by asking your child what they know about rain and water. Write down what they share with you on a piece of paper. Then, ask your child what they want to know about rain or water and write it down. Save the paper for future reference.

  2.  If you are able and the weather permits, head outside on a rainy day to engage in some play activities. If you are experiencing warm weather, skip to number 3 for alternative ideas. Here are some fun ideas you might want to try during your rainy play day: 

  • Rainy day nature walk or hike: Head outside in the rain, encouraging children to explore nature with all their senses. Let them touch wet leaves, listen to raindrops, and smell the earth. Discuss what they observe and encourage curiosity.

  • Puddle jumping: Encourage free movement and imaginative play as children splash around, feeling the water.

  • Playing in puddles with toys: Provide waterproof toys for children to play with in puddles, practicing life skills and sensory exploration as children engage in pouring, scooping, and observing how objects behave in water.

  • Mud kitchen: Set up a mud kitchen outdoors with simple natural materials like pots, pans, and mud. Children can engage in open-ended, imaginative play, experimenting with mixing, pouring, and creating mud concoctions.

  • Musical pots and pans: Encourage children to explore sound and rhythm by using pots, pans, and utensils as musical instruments. This activity promotes creativity, and sensory awareness as children experiment with different sounds and movements.

  • Worm hunting: After a rain shower, go on a worm hunt! Provide child-sized tools like magnifying glasses and small shovels for children to safely observe and collect worms while fostering a respect for living creatures and the environment.

  • Leaf, stick, or toy boat racing in a gutter or stream: Use natural materials to create boats and race them down a gutter or stream. This activity encourages problem-solving, experimentation, and cooperation as children explore the flow of water.

  • Rainy day art: Invite children to engage in process-oriented art by drawing with markers on paper and placing their artwork outside in the rain. This activity encourages creativity and observation as children witness the effects of raindrops on their drawings. 

3. If it isn’t rainy where you are, and the weather is warm enough, consider heading outside for a water filled play day in your swimsuit. Here are some ideas: 

  • Splash pad: Explore a splash pad where children can engage in free, imaginative movement as they run through water jets and fountains.

  • Sand and water play (beach or sandbox): Encourage open-ended exploration as they dig, build, and experiment with sand and water.

  • Backyard hose or sprinklers: Set up a backyard hose or sprinklers for children to explore. Encourage them to observe and interact with the water, promoting sensory awareness and creative expression as they splash, jump, and play in the outdoor environment.

  • Water table: Create a water table with containers, scoops, and funnels for children to discover and explore. Encourage hands-on experimentation and play as they pour, measure, and manipulate water.

  • Creek, stream, or pond play: Take children on an outdoor adventure to explore a nearby creek, stream, or pond. Guide them in observing and interacting with the natural environment.