Up and Down the Bench Step to the Drum

Using the bench as a step, kids step up and down to the slow or fast beat of the drum. It warms up the body and works on matching movement to a beat.

How to play

1. We stand along the benches, facing them, with plenty of room between friends (1 min).
2. On a slow drum beat, we put one foot and then the other up on the bench; on the next beats, we step down one, then the other (1 min).
3. When the drum gets faster, we step faster; when it's slow, we go slowly like grandpas and grandmas (2 min).
4. When the drum rolls, we freeze up top like statues until the next beat (1 min).
5. We step off and walk very slowly around the bench, breathing, until the drum fades out (1 min).

Rules

• We step up with our whole foot on the bench.
• Everyone has their own piece of bench.
• If you get tired, stay down and clap the beat.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child who can't step up keeps the beat by placing and lifting their hands on the bench.
• Hearing impairment: the adult shows the beat by moving the drum up and down where everyone can see it.
• Less skilled kids: a bench of their own next to the wall bars to hold on to.

Learning goals

• Warm up the legs by stepping up and down.
• Match movement speed to the drum beat.
• Stop moving on a signal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• banco sueco: 4
• pandero: 1

Teacher tip

Benches must be steady, with no mats underneath and a clear space to step down. Always start slow: the usual mistake is speeding up and stepping on the edge.

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