My Partner's Wind-Up Toy
In pairs, one child is a wind-up toy and the other makes it go with a shaker: it moves while the shaker plays, freezes when it stops, and speeds up or slows down with the beat. It builds body control and listening to a partner.
How to play
- In pairs: one is the toy and the other holds the shaker; wind up the toy by twisting a hand on their back, click, click (1 min).
- While the shaker plays, the toy moves however it likes; when it stops, the toy freezes (3 min).
- Fast shaker, fast toy; slow shaker, slow-motion toy (3 min).
- Swap roles; the new toy picks what kind of toy it is: toy soldier, ballerina, race car (4 min).
- The toy runs down: the shaker fades out bit by bit and the toy slowly sits down (1 min).
Rules
- The toy only moves when it hears its shaker.
- The player looks after their toy and never steers it into anyone.
- Winding up is gentle, just with your hand.
Variations
Easier
Age 3: just move and stop, with the teacher playing one shaker for all the toys at first.
Standard
Age 4: in pairs, with speed changes.
Harder
Age 5: the player can give the shaker a sharp tap to make the toy change direction.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the toy moves arms, head and trunk, or the wheelchair with a partner's help.
- Hearing impairment: the partner shakes the shaker where it's easy to see, right in front of their face.
- Autism: they can start as the player, which gives more control, and become the toy when ready.
Learning goals
- Match movement to the speed of the sound.
- Stop the body with control.
- Look after a partner and trust them.
Equipment for a class of 25
- homemade shakers: 13
Teacher tip
Be the toy yourself while a child plays to demonstrate; they love bossing the teacher around. If a toy won't stop, its "spring got stuck" and it has to be wound up again.
PatioLab has "My Partner's Wind-Up Toy" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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