Counting Out: Who's It?

Children learn traditional Spanish counting-out rhymes, like “Pito, pito, gorgorito,” and use them in a circle to choose who starts a game, moving to the beat of each syllable. Kids practice rhythm, oral tradition and a fair way to organize themselves at recess.

How to play

1. Standing in a circle, the teacher says the Spanish rhyme “Pito, pito, gorgorito” (a nonsense counting-out chant ending in “pim, pam, out!”), or an English one like “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” tapping one child per beat (2 min).
2. Everyone says it together, stepping in place on each beat, and jumps with feet together on “out!” (2 min).
3. Count out for real: the child chosen runs once around the outside of the circle and returns to their spot (3 min).
4. Learn a made-up rhyme for variety: “One, two, three, who will it be? Spin around and wave at me!” (2 min).
5. In small groups, one child counts out alone to choose who's “it” in the next game (3 min).

Rules

• Tap one person per beat, without skipping anyone.
• Whatever the rhyme says goes.
• If it lands on you, it lands on you; no do-overs.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: keep the beat with claps or by rocking the upper body, and do the counting out from their spot.
• Hearing impairment: the counter taps each child very visibly and makes a clear gesture on “out!”
• Autism: explain ahead of time that the rhyme decides who's picked and there will be more rounds.

Learning goals

• Follow the rhythm of a rhyme with the body.
• Learn traditional rhymes for playing games.
• Organize a game fairly and independently.

Teacher tip

This tool prevents more recess conflicts than any other, so practice it a lot. Watch that nobody skips a friend while counting; if it happens, just start over without scolding.

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