Who's Leading Me?

Children walk and run around as if one body part were pulling them along and arriving first: the nose, tummy, elbow, knee or belly button. It builds a feel for each body part in motion and creative movement.

How to play

1. The teacher walks nose first, as if a magnet were pulling it, and asks, "Who's leading me?" (1 min).
2. To the drumbeat, everyone walks nose first, then tummy first, then chest first (3 min).
3. Switch to sillier parts: an elbow, a knee, the bottom going backward, a shoulder going sideways (3 min).
4. With faster music, run and jump letting the named part go first; when it stops, freeze with that part stretched out (3 min).
5. Walk slowly, led by a part each child chooses, while the others guess which one it is (2 min).

Rules

• The leading part always goes first.
• Watch where you're going so you don't bump.
• When the music stops, freeze.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, the named part leans forward and leads the movement or sway.
• Visual impairment: move holding a classmate's hand, with each part named clearly.
• Autism: show the part on a card and keep the same drumbeat for a while before changing.

Learning goals

• Feel and name specific body parts while moving.
• Explore ways of moving led by different parts.
• Express oneself creatively through movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1
• Music

Teacher tip

Give an exaggerated, funny demo yourself: humor helps kids loosen up. With bottom-first, remind them to go slowly so no one falls.

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