Giant Circle, Tiny Circle

The circle turns into a giant (very wide, with long slow steps and a deep voice) or a tiny one (very close, with quick little steps and a squeaky voice). It builds adjusting step length and speed, opening and closing the circle, and expressing with the voice.

How to play

1. Giant circle: open as wide as our arms allow and turn with huge, slow steps, saying in a deep voice: "I'm a giant, I stomp the ground, slow and heavy, all around!" (2 min).
2. Tiny circle: close in until we're almost touching and turn with quick little steps, saying in a squeaky voice: "I'm so tiny, small and quick, tippy-tappy, lickety-split!" (2 min).
3. The drum is the boss: loud, slow beats, giant circle; soft, fast beats, tiny circle; switch several times (2 min).
4. Transform little by little: from tiny to giant, growing with each step, and from giant back to tiny, shrinking (2 min).
5. A child goes into the middle and decides which circle we are by calling "Giant!" or "Tiny!" (1 min).
6. Finish as a teeny-tiny circle, sitting on the floor in silence (1 min).

Rules

• The giant goes slowly, even with big steps.
• The tiny circle goes fast, but with little steps.
• Nobody lets go when opening and closing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair shows giant with arms wide and tiny with arms tucked in; classmates match the chair's pace.
• Autism: use two pictures (giant and tiny) and show the next one before switching.
• Hearing impairment: along with the drum, the teacher stretches up tall (giant) or crouches down (tiny).

Learning goals

• Adjust step length and speed.
• Open and close the circle in a coordinated way.
• Express characters with voice and body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

The typical mistake is the giant running: stress "big and slow." In the tiny circle, they shouldn't squeeze so tight they step on each other; a hand's width between shoulders is enough.

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