Slow Chalk, Speedy Chalk

Each child draws on the playground following the hand drum: slow beats make long, calm lines, fast beats make dots and dashes. Then they walk over their drawing at the same speed.

How to play

1. Give everyone a thick piece of chalk and have them find their own patch of ground, apart from others (2 min).
2. Slow drum: the chalk walks slowly, one long line curling like a snail shell (2 min).
3. Fast drum: the chalk runs, making dots and dashes like rain (2 min).
4. Changing drum: slow, fast, slow… and the chalk changes with it; silence means lift the chalk (2 min).
5. Put the chalk down and walk on your drawing: slowly along the long line, quick hops on the dots (3 min).
6. Museum walk: look at everyone's drawings, walking slowly with hands behind your back (1 min).

Rules

• I draw in my own patch.
• The chalk follows the drum.
• When the drum stops, I lift the chalk.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: draws on a chalkboard or large paper on a table or wheelchair tray.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the beat by moving the drum or hand very visibly.
• Lower fine-motor skill: extra-thick chalk or chalk stuck into a piece of pool noodle.

Learning goals

• Link rhythm speed to drawing.
• Control the hand at different speeds.
• Walk a path adjusting speed.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Sidewalk chalk: 25
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Use thick chalk on a dry day. Kids tend to scribble fast the whole time because it's more fun, so keep slow parts short at first and celebrate the longest line.

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