Nyama, Nyama: Jumping to Swahili Words
An adaptation of nyama, nyama, a Swahili game from Kenya: the teacher calls out words, and if it's an animal everyone jumps; if it's a thing they stay crouched down. Children practice listening, reacting quickly and jumping.
How to play
- In a circle, the teacher teaches a few words in Swahili, a language spoken in Kenya: kuku (chicken), samaki (fish), mbuzi (goat), meza (table), kiti (chair) (1 min).
- Everyone crouches. The teacher chants "nyama, nyama, nyama..." and then a word; if it's an animal, we jump with arms up (1 min).
- Mix animals and things: if it's a thing, we stay crouched like rocks (2 min).
- Each time we jump for an animal, we move like it for a moment: kuku flaps, samaki swims, mbuzi trots (1 min).
- Finish with "nyama, nyama... lala!" (sleep): we lie down and breathe slowly (1 min).
Rules
- Listen to the whole word before you jump.
- If you get it wrong, no big deal: keep playing.
- Jump in your own spot without bumping.
- Crouch and stand up slowly.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use just two words (kuku to jump, meza to stay) and the teacher does the move too.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, mix four or five words at a calm pace.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher calls the words faster and a child takes a turn as leader.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: instead of jumping, reach both arms up high from the chair.
- Hearing impairment: hold up a picture card of the animal or object with each word.
- Autism: say how many words are left and use the same words in the same order the first time.
Learning goals
- React to a spoken cue with a jump.
- Tell animals from objects while moving.
- Learn some words and a game from Kenya.
Teacher tip
In the original Kenyan game, players jump for animals people eat; here we simplify it to "animal or thing." Keep the words on a card so you pronounce them consistently.
PatioLab has "Nyama, Nyama: Jumping to Swahili Words" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.