Pass the Tambourine: You Lead
The tambourine travels around the circle, and whoever holds it plays and picks how the whole group moves: hopping, tiptoeing, crawling. Kids work on rhythm, taking initiative, and following a classmate as leader.
How to play
- Children stand in a circle. Play the tambourine and model: “I play and say: like kangaroos!” Everyone hops around the gym while it plays (1 min).
- When the tambourine stops, everyone walks back to the circle. Hand the tambourine to the child on your right.
- The new leader steps into the middle, names an animal or a way to move, and plays. The group moves that way for about 20 seconds.
- When the leader stops playing, everyone returns to the circle and the tambourine passes to the next child (4 min, about 10 rounds).
- If a child can’t decide, offer two choices with gestures: “Frogs or birds?”
- Wrap-up: play very softly while everyone tiptoes back to the circle and sits (1 min).
Rules
- Hand the tambourine over, never toss it.
- We all follow the leader, whoever it is.
- Move without bumping and walk back to the circle.
- If you don’t want to lead, you can pass the tambourine on.
Variations
Easier
The teacher plays and the leader only picks the animal.
Standard
The leader picks the movement and plays the tambourine.
Harder
The leader picks movement and speed: slow playing means slow moves, fast playing means quick moves.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child can lead from their spot, and the group uses moves they can do too, like bird wings.
- Shy kids or autism: offer to lead with a buddy or choose with a picture card instead of talking.
- More skilled kids link two moves; less skilled kids repeat a move already used.
Learning goals
- Suggest a movement for the group and keep the beat on the tambourine.
- Follow classmates’ ideas.
- Match travel to the beat they hear.
Equipment for a class of 25
- tambourine: 1
Teacher tip
Keep a mental list of animals in case ideas repeat. With 3-year-olds, make rounds shorter so nobody waits too long for a turn.
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