Rain Clouds
Partners take turns to 'rain' on each other with splashes and drips – social, fun and builds tolerance of water on the face.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 3–8 years
- Group size
- 2–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Monitor pairs closely to ensure splashing stays gentle and consensual.
What it develops
- Scoop water and wash the face
- Be comfortable with water over the head
How to run it
- Swimmers stand in pairs facing each other.
- Partner A is the rain cloud and gently drips water from their fingers over B's head.
- Build from 'drizzle' to 'showers'. Swap roles.
- Finish with a whole-group 'thunderstorm' splash.
Teaching cues
- Rain clouds are gentle – drops, not buckets.
- Receivers blow out when it rains.
- Always ask your partner 'ready?'.
Make it easier
- Rain on hands and shoulders only.
- Teacher is the only rain cloud.
Make it harder
- Swimmers crouch so the rain lands on top of the head.
- Receivers put face in as it 'rains'.
Common faults
- Rain clouds splashing too hard.
Corrections
- Model the drizzle carefully and praise gentle clouds.
Assistant / L1 role
- Partner the most nervous swimmer yourself so you can control the amount of water.