Over for High, Under for Low

On a course with low benches and tables, children go over a bench when the high triangle sounds and under a table when the low drum sounds. They practice linking high and low pitch with up and down in real space.

How to play

1. Set up the course: two low benches with mats on both sides and two tables with mats underneath, spread around the room (2 min).
2. Walk the course with no sound: over the benches crawling or walking with the teacher beside them, and under the tables crawling on bellies (3 min).
3. Now the sounds are the boss: high triangle, find a bench and go over it; low drum, find a table and go under it (4 min).
4. With no sound, walk freely away from the obstacles; the teacher plays faster, and children must choose a free obstacle (4 min).
5. Ear test: the teacher plays with their back turned and sometimes uses a squeaky or deep voice instead of instruments (2 min).
6. Clean up and sit on the bench to listen to one last high sound and one low sound (1 min).

Rules

• High sound, go over; low sound, go under.
• On the bench, one at a time and no pushing.
• If there's a line, wait or find another obstacle.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: "over" means raising arms and "under" means bending down in the chair, or an adult helps them across a mat.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds up a colored card with each sound and lets the child touch the drum to feel it.
• Visual impairment: a classmate goes with them, and obstacles are marked with high-contrast mats.

Learning goals

• Link high sounds with up and low sounds with down.
• Get past obstacles by going over and under.
• Choose a free obstacle in the space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• bancos suecos: 2
• colchonetas: 6
• mesas: 2
• triángulo: 1
• tambor: 1

Teacher tip

Benches must be low with mats on both sides, and an adult stays by them the whole time. Make sure the tables are stable and that nobody tries to walk under them standing up.

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