Pass the Hat Dance Leader

Standing in a circle, students pass hats from head to head while music plays. When it stops, whoever is wearing a hat steps into the center and makes up a dance move that the whole circle copies. Nobody is out, and students work on imitation, creativity and confidence.

How to play

1. Standing circle an arm's length apart; hand three hats to three students around the circle (1 min).
2. With music on, each student puts on the hat that arrives and gently places it on the head of the person to the right (2 min).
3. When the music stops, hat wearers step into the center and each leads an 8-count move: raise-the-roof claps, hops, shoulder shimmies (2 min).
4. The circle copies the closest leader for 30 seconds, then the music starts again (6 min, about 6 rounds).
5. Last rounds: each new move is added to the previous one, and the class dances the whole routine at the end (4 min).

Rules

• Pass the hat with your hands and place it; never throw it.
• Any move counts: nobody laughs at other people's ideas.
• Center moves must be safe: no cartwheels or floor spins.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student can lead moves with arms, head and torso only, and the circle copies them the same way.
• Shyness or autism: the student can go to the center with a friend or pick a move from a picture card.
• Skill level: encourage confident dancers to lead traveling moves; for students who struggle, repeating a move they have seen is fine.

Learning goals

• Copy a classmate's movements accurately to the beat of the music.
• Make up a simple dance move and show it to the group.
• Respect and value every classmate's ideas.

Equipment for a class of 25

• music: 1
• hats: 3

Teacher tip

Pick upbeat songs with a clear beat. Keep track of who has led so the whole class gets a turn within two lessons; shy students often join in the second time.

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