Waves and Thunder on the Long Rope

The whole class stands in a circle holding one long rope tied into a loop and moves it together: little waves, big waves, thunder that shakes it, and the sun that lifts it to the sky. Kids warm up their arms and shoulders and learn to move as one.

How to play

1. We sit in a circle and everyone holds the rope with both hands; the teacher shows how to grip it (1 min).
2. Standing up, we make tiny waves by moving only our wrists, like a calm sea (1 min).
3. Big waves: we raise and lower our arms all together, bending our knees (1 min).
4. Thunder! We shake the rope hard and fast; when the teacher claps, quiet and still (1 min).
5. Here comes the sun: we lift the rope up to the sky on tiptoe and lower it to the floor in a squat (1 min).
6. We all take little steps the same way with the rope in our hands, like a slow merry-go-round, and lay it on the floor (1 min).

Rules

• I hold the rope with both hands and don't drop it suddenly.
• The rope stays in my hands or at my tummy, never near my neck.
• When the teacher claps, we all stop.
• If I pull hard, my friend falls, so we move without pulling.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child joins the circle seated in their wheelchair, with the rope at hand height.
• Visual impairment: place the child between two classmates who announce each change; they feel the movement through the rope.
• Autism: thunder can be overwhelming; warn the child ahead of time and let them make "soft thunder" or cover their ears.

Learning goals

• Warm up arms, shoulders and legs before playing.
• Coordinate their movement with the whole group.
• Stop and start on a signal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Long rope: 1

Teacher tip

A 25-30 ft rope tied in a loop fits about 20 kids; with more, make two circles. Stress that no one puts it around their neck or wraps it around a hand: we just grip and let go.

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