Balloon Taps to the Drum
Each student keeps a balloon in the air by tapping it once on every hand drum beat, while the rhythm shifts from slow to fast. Students practice hand-eye coordination, matching their strikes to a beat, and tracking the balloon's slow flight.
How to play
- Each student takes an inflated balloon and finds their own space in the gym, arms out without touching anyone (2 min).
- The teacher plays the drum slowly, one beat every 2 seconds. On each beat, students tap their balloon upward with one hand. Between beats, the balloon must stay in the air (3 min).
- Change the body part: one beat is right hand, the next is left hand; then head, knee, or elbow as the teacher calls (3 min).
- Change the rhythm: two fast beats mean two quick low taps, and one loud beat means a very high tap so they can spin around before the next one (3 min).
- In pairs with one balloon: partners alternate taps on each drum beat, like a game with no net (3 min).
- To finish (1 min), the beats get slower and slower until the balloon floats down and is caught with both hands.
Rules
- Touch the balloon only when the drum plays.
- If your balloon drops, pick it up and wait for the next beat to start again.
- Take care of your own balloon and don't hit anyone else's.
- Look up but move slowly so you don't bump into others.
Variations
Easier
Tap with no set beat, just trying to keep the balloon up.
Standard
Tap once per drum beat with hand and rhythm changes.
Harder
Keep two balloons up at once, tapping one on each beat.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student plays seated with a balloon tied to a short string so it is easy to get back.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: the teacher raises a hand on each beat so the student can see the rhythm.
- Higher-skilled students: they tap with a mini racket or with a foot.
Learning goals
- Strike a slow-moving object in time with a beat.
- Use different body parts to strike.
- Adapt to speed changes in a sound signal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- balloons: 30
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Keep spare balloons on hand because some will pop, and check ahead of time for students who are scared of loud noises or allergic to latex. It works best indoors, since wind pushes balloons off course.
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