The Elbow Paints Waves

With butcher paper taped to the wall at children's height, kids use a paint-dipped elbow to make waves, circles, and zigzags to the beat of the music. They practice moving the elbow on its own, making big movements, and following a rhythm.

How to play

1. We tape the paper to the wall at the children's shoulder height and set out a little finger paint on plates nearby (2 min).
2. Without paint, the teacher demonstrates three elbow strokes in the air: calm waves, wheel circles, and lightning zigzags (2 min).
3. Sleeves rolled up, we dip one elbow and paint waves to slow music, side to side across our own section of paper (3 min).
4. The music changes: to fast music we paint zigzags, to swirly music we paint circles, then switch elbows (3 min).
5. We wipe our elbows and guess where on the paper the slow music was and where the fast music was (2 min).

Rules

• Only the elbow paints; the hand stays closed.
• Paint in your own piece of ocean.
• When the music stops, your elbow stops.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: tape the paper to a table or a tilted board at wheelchair height.
• Autism: let them choose a bare elbow or a sock sleeve, and always use the same song for each stroke.
• Hearing loss: when the music changes, the teacher draws the stroke big in the air where everyone can see.

Learning goals

• Move the elbow independently of the rest of the arm.
• Match strokes to the speed of the music.
• Use both sides of the body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Butcher paper roll: 1
• Washable finger paint: 4
• Masking tape: 1
• Music
• Wipes and a bucket of water: 1

Teacher tip

Cover the floor under the paper with newspaper and put the paint on flat plates so only the tip of the elbow gets dipped. Choose very different songs so the change is obvious.

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