Ball Drummers

Sitting or kneeling, children tap their ball on the floor like a drum, following the hand drum's beat. It wakes up hands and wrists and gets them ready for striking.

How to play

1. Sit in a circle with a ball between your legs; drum on it with both palms (1 min).
2. Tap with one hand, then the other, following the hand drum: slow and fast (1 min).
3. Hit hard (thunder) and soft (rain) as the teacher calls it (1 min).
4. On your knees, give the ball a tap so it rolls a little and stop it again with your hand (2 min).
5. Finish with a super fast drumroll and boom, hands up high (1 min).

Rules

• The ball stays on the floor; no throwing.
• I tap with an open hand, no fists.
• When the drum stops, my hands rest.
• I only touch my own ball.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing loss: show the beat with big arm movements as well as the drum.
• Less coordination: use a bigger ball resting inside a hoop so it can't roll away.
• Autism or noise sensitivity: use foam balls, which are quieter, and sit next to the teacher.

Learning goals

• Strike with an open palm.
• Adjust the force of the hit (soft and hard).
• Follow a simple rhythm.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Soft balls: 25
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Model it with your own ball in the middle of the circle. If someone throws their ball, hand it back and remind them: "It's a drum, it stays on the floor."

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