The Drum Says Sit, the Drum Says Stand

Each child stands next to their chair and the drum is the boss: one beat means sit, two beats mean stand, and a drum roll means walk around your chair. It warms up the body and builds listening and reaction to a signal.

How to play

1. Everyone stands beside their chair; the teacher demonstrates one beat (sit down) and two beats (stand up) (1 min).
2. Practice slowly: one beat, sit all the way back; two beats, stand up without pushing the chair (1 min).
3. Add the drum roll: while it plays, walk in circles around your own chair, and freeze when it stops (2 min).
4. The teacher mixes all three signals faster and faster and switches the direction of the circles (1 min).
5. Finish seated with one very soft beat and take two big breaths (1 min).

Rules

• One beat: bottom on the chair.
• Two beats: up like a spring.
• When the drum rolls, I walk around my chair, no running.
• The chair stays put; only my body moves.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from their wheelchair, one beat is hands on knees, two beats is hands up, and the drum roll is arm circles.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds up one or two fingers with each beat and shakes the drum high for the roll.
• Autism: warn ahead that the drum will be loud and give the child a chair at the end of a row with fewer classmates nearby.

Learning goals

• Warm up the legs and trunk by changing positions.
• React to a specific sound signal.
• Move around an object without touching it.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Chairs: 25
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Pull chairs a long arm's length away from the tables first so there's room to circle. Many kids pop up on the first beat, so leave a clear pause between the two beats.

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