TITLE: Rain
AUTHOR: Robert Clark Frayser, Commerce, OK
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 2-4, Native American culture
PURPOSE: The children find this lesson both interesting and
thought provoking. They like it because it is a game, and
it is easy. I like it because it helps show children what
games were like for early Native Americans, how to use the
environment around them, and how to "think on their feet"
and relate to others. They learn cooperation, which is very
much the "Indian Way".
OBJECTIVES: The children should know where the game comes
from, and why it is important. They should be able to
remember all the steps and be able to play the game by
themselves. It would be really good if the students could
add variations, such as a lull in the storm, or more than
one storm, but having the students get through the game on
their own is a reasonable outcome to expect.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: All that is needed is a space with a
hard floor (wood is best), or heavy tables. The student
need to be able to get down on their knees or sit on the
floor. Patient neighbors are also needed, as children can
really "get into" the game and may get noisy in their
enthusiasm.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES: A class of 20-25 is a good size.
The students sit in a circle if possible. The teacher leads
a discussion on Indian games. Games, in the old days, often
helped sharpen skills needed in adult life. Games were also
just for fun. Games would reflect the environment the
children lived in, as well as their culture.
The teacher explains the game "Rain." It is a game
played long ago on the north west coast. It rained a lot
there, and one can imagine the children having to stay
indoors and responding to nature outside. They made up a
game, creating the sound of a rain storm using the wood
floor.
The teacher asks what often comes before rain. Wind
often picks up, and that is the answer sought. The students
make circular motions on the floor, and it sound like wind.
(If the floor doesn't have a good sound, heavy table will
do.)
The next part is small drops of a rain shower. The
sound is made with the fingertips striking the floor softly,
then a little harder. A leader shows the students how long
to have the wind build up, and when to start the raindrops.
The sounds should overlap.
The next sound is rain. This is made with all the
fingers on each hand hitting quickly together. The last new
sound is a hard rain, made with the palm of each hand
pounding very quickly.
The rest of the game is played in reverse order, as the
storm passes. Variations can be added, such as shower or
two with wind in between before the heavy rain hits.
Once students have mastered the basic steps they should
close their eyes and listen to how real it sounds. The
whole game may then be played in a dim or dark room.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: A follow-up discussion on Indian
games should prove fruitful. Students may also want to
learn other games from other tribes in different parts fo
the country. The kinds of games an materials used can be
contrasted and compared to the climate and resources of
different tribes.
The children have also found out that they don't need
"things" to have fun. They love to bring in an outsider and
have them guess what the sounds are.
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org