This Is How My Name Sounds

Each child discovers how many beats their name has by clapping once for each syllable, then the group repeats it with claps and steps. Children practice the rhythm of words, listening, and feeling recognized by the group.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, the teacher says their name with one clap per syllable and everyone repeats it (1 min).
2. One at a time, each child says their name with claps and the group answers together with the same claps (4 min).
3. Stand up: the teacher plays the rhythm of a name on the hand drum and everyone takes that many steps; the name's owner jumps at the end (3 min).
4. Group names that sound the same: two-beat names on one side, three-beat names on another, four-beat names in the middle (2 min).
5. Finish by softly saying all the names in a row with gentle claps, like a song (2 min).

Rules

• One clap for each part of the name.
• When it's my name, I listen to my friends say it.
• Wait until each name is finished.

Variations

Adaptations

• Autism: announce the turn order ahead of time and let the child clap their name or have the teacher say it.
• Hearing impairment: say names facing the child, slowly, and also show syllables on your fingers.
• Limited mobility: replace steps with hand taps on knees or the wheelchair.

Learning goals

• Break words into rhythmic beats.
• Reproduce rhythms with claps and steps.
• Recognize and value each classmate's name.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pandero

Teacher tip

Use the name children go by in class: if it's Alexander and he goes by Alex, let him choose. For hyphenated names or names from other languages, ask beforehand how to say them so the beats are right.

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