The Five Vowels Wake Up

Children turn their bodies into each vowel while saying its sound out loud, then travel around the room and switch vowels whenever the drum stops. They practice vowel shapes and moving smoothly from one pose to another.

How to play

1. In a circle, show A (feet apart, hands together overhead like a roof, "Aaa!") and O (arms in a ring over the head, "Ooo!") (1 min).
2. Teach I (stretch tall on tiptoes, arms tight overhead, "Eee!") and U (arms up and open like a cup, "Ooo-oo!") (1 min).
3. E is the smiley vowel: arms reaching forward, one leg back, and a huge grin, "Eh!" (1 min).
4. Walk to the drumbeat; when it stops, call out a vowel and everyone makes its shape and sound (2 min).
5. To finish, chant "A, E, I, O, U" slowly, melting from one shape to the next like stretchy gum (1 min).

Rules

• When the drum stops, I freeze like a statue.
• I say each vowel nice and long.
• I walk without bumping into anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make vowels with arms and trunk only, seated or in a wheelchair.
• Hearing impairment: hold up a card with the vowel and its body shape each time the drum stops.
• Autism: keep the same order every time and post a chart of the five poses.

Learning goals

• Link each vowel with a body shape and its sound.
• Move from one pose to another with control.
• Warm up the whole body gradually.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Exaggerate the sound and your face: vowels stick when the mouth and body work together. In English classes, you can use the letter names or the short sounds, but pick one and stay consistent.

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