Miss Mary Mack Hand Claps
Facing a partner, kids learn the traditional clapping game "Miss Mary Mack": clap your own hands, clap your partner's, pat your knees. It builds hand coordination, rhythm and partner play.
How to play
- The teacher shows three moves with a child: own clap, partner clap, knee pat (2 min).
- Pairs practice slowly without the rhyme (2 min).
- Add the rhyme, first lines only, to the beat of the claps (3 min).
- Try it faster and switch partners (3 min).
- Big circle round: clap with the neighbors on each side (2 min).
Rules
- Clap gently, no slapping.
- Watch your partner's hands.
- If we mess up, we laugh and start again.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, two moves only: own clap and partner clap with both hands.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, three moves and the short rhyme.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add cross claps (right to right, left to left).
Adaptations
- Seated children play the same way—no legs needed.
- For blind or low-vision kids, the partner keeps hands close and says "now!"
- For kids who avoid touch, clap in the air facing the partner without contact.
Learning goals
- Coordinate both hands.
- Keep a beat with a partner.
- Learn a traditional English clapping game.
Teacher tip
The first lines are enough—the clapping pattern is what matters. Start very slow; speeding up is where it falls apart.
PatioLab has "Miss Mary Mack Hand Claps" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…