Mama Circle and Little Circles

The big circle breaks into little circles that turn around the playground, and when the drum calls, everyone comes back together into the mama circle. It builds grouping with different classmates, making sure nobody is left alone, and turning together.

How to play

1. Make a big circle and turn slowly saying the chant: "Mama circle goes to sleep, little circles come out to play!" (2 min).
2. When the chant ends, let go and join up in little circles with whoever is nearby; each little circle turns around the playground (2 min).
3. The drum tells the little circles how to turn: slow beats, turn slowly; fast beats, turn fast; silence, crouch down (3 min).
4. Two loud beats: "Mama's calling!"; all the little circles come back and join the big circle again (2 min).
5. Play again asking for little circles of a set number (three or four) and make sure nobody is left without a circle (2 min).
6. The mama circle sits on the floor with all its little circles inside it (1 min).

Rules

• If you see someone alone, take their hand.
• Little circles turn without bumping into other circles.
• When Mama calls, we walk back.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the little circle turns around the child in the wheelchair while they turn the chair or arms.
• Autism: let the child always form their little circle with the same buddy.
• Hearing impairment: pair the drum beats with arm signals (fast, slow, a hug for "Mama's calling").

Learning goals

• Form small groups with different classmates without leaving anyone alone.
• Coordinate with others to turn at different speeds.
• React to drum signals.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Don't ask for exact numbers until they've played freely a couple of times. The tricky moment is forming little circles: watch for the child who stands still and steer them to a nearby group.

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