Turtle Feet, Hummingbird Shaker

Children play at making their feet and their shaker go at different speeds: slow turtle feet with a super-fast hummingbird shaker, and the other way around. It works on moving arms and legs independently.

How to play

1. Walk and shake at the same speed, slow at first and then fast (2 min).
2. Hummingbird challenge: very slow turtle feet and a super-fast shaker (2 min).
3. Switch it: jog on tiptoe while the shaker moves slowly, one shake every so often, like a snail (3 min).
4. More mixes: kangaroo hops with a silent shaker, giant steps with a trembling shaker (3 min).
5. Bring feet and shaker back together, slower and slower, until you stop (2 min).

Rules

• My feet do one thing and my shaker does another.
• If I get mixed up, I stop, breathe and start slowly.
• Move in your own space without bumping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: one hand pushes the wheel or moves an arm slowly while the other shakes fast.
• Less coordination: try it sitting first, arms only (one hand slow, the shaker fast).
• Hearing impairment: pictures of a turtle, hummingbird, snail and kangaroo for each combination.

Learning goals

• Move arms and legs at different speeds.
• Improve voluntary control of movement.
• Explore what the body can do.

Equipment for a class of 25

• homemade shakers: 25

Teacher tip

It's harder than it looks, so celebrate the tries, not perfection. Feet usually speed up when the shaker does; call out the slow pace yourself: "tuuurr... tle."

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