How Many Jumps Says the Drum?
The teacher taps the tambourine once, twice, or three times, and children do the same number of two-footed jumps. They practice listening, rhythm, and matching sound to movement.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle, count the tambourine taps on our fingers (1 min).
- Standing up, each tap is one jump in place: one, two, or three jumps, then stop (1 min).
- A child plays the tambourine while the others jump, with the teacher jumping along (1 min).
- Slow taps mean slow jumps; fast taps mean fast jumps (1 min).
- Now jump forward as many times as you hear taps, then walk back (2 min).
Rules
- First I listen, then I jump.
- One tap, one jump.
- When the tambourine is quiet, I stay still.
- I jump with feet together and land softly.
Variations
Easier
At age 3, only one or two taps, and the teacher jumps along counting out loud.
Standard
At age 4, up to three taps; listen to the whole set first, then jump.
Harder
At age 5, up to four taps, alternating jumps forward and backward.
Adaptations
- Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the number on their fingers while tapping, or taps the floor so the child feels the vibration.
- Limited mobility: the child claps or raises their arms the same number of times.
- Autism: always use the same tambourine and say "Listen" before each set.
Learning goals
- Match a number of sounds to a number of jumps.
- Adjust jumping speed to the rhythm.
- Sustain listening attention.
Equipment for a class of 25
- tambourine: 1
Teacher tip
Always start with "listen first, then jump"—if they jump while you're tapping, they lose count. Leave clear pauses between sets.
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