Hail Bounces on the Roof

Each child has a hoop that's their piece of roof, and when the drum makes the sound of hail, they bounce like little ice balls in and out of the hoop. Kids practice two-foot jumps and soft landings.

How to play

1. Everyone stands inside their hoop: that's their roof. We try bouncing like hail with our feet together (1 min).
2. Little hail: soft drum taps and tiny hops inside the hoop, landing without a sound (1 min).
3. Big hail: loud beats and we jump in and out of the hoop with feet together (2 min).
4. Hail rolls off the roof: the drum stops and we walk to another empty hoop (1 min).
5. The sun comes out and the hail melts: we slowly sink down inside our hoop until we're lying flat (1 min).

Rules

• I jump with both feet at the same time.
• I land softly, bending my knees like cotton.
• When I switch hoops, I walk and find an empty one.
• When the drum stops, I stop jumping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: makes hail by bouncing a ball inside the hoop or tapping hands on knees.
• Hearing loss: the teacher jumps holding the drum up high so the rhythm is visible.
• Lower skill: may step-hop one foot after the other or hold a buddy's hand.

Learning goals

• Jump with both feet together and land softly.
• Match jumps to a sound rhythm.
• Move in and out of a marked space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1
• Hoops: 25

Teacher tip

Spread the hoops out well before starting, at least one big step apart. Model the "cotton landing": if you can hear their feet, they need to bend their knees more.

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