On a rainy day, we invite children to put on weatherproof gear, including boots, and go outside to play in the rain.
Through autumn and winter, there’s much outdoor learning to explore. Rainfall provides a wonderfully tactile way of exploring water in a different context. Standing in, walking through and splashing in puddles will provide meaningful opportunities for children to explore new experiences and develop new vocabulary too.
Here are some ideas of what to include on a rainy-day
Chalk for marking the depth of a puddle onto wellington boots or drawing around a puddle to see how quickly it dries.
Paint and brushes for mixing in puddles. This can be a great context for colour mixing, but watch out that children don’t stray too far as it makes a bit of a mess!
Adding materials that float or can be made into boats can be interesting too, another way to use puddles or running water
Umbrellas are also a great resource for rainy days – and experimenting with the sound of the rain on different surfaces is interesting. For example, placing a piece of kitchen foil over the top of an umbrella and listening for the pitter patter of raindrops.
Long handled brushes are perfect for sweeping the puddles to create waves and streams
