Who Wakes What Circle
In a hand-holding circle, each child takes a turn naming a body part and everyone moves it while the circle turns to a made-up chant. It's a circle game kids learn to lead on their own, and it wakes up the body bit by bit.
How to play
- Hold hands in a circle and learn the chant: “Round and round and round we go, what wakes up? Let's go!” (1 min).
- Walk around singing; when we stop, the teacher calls “Shoulders!” and everyone wiggles them (1 min).
- Now the child to the teacher's right picks the body part, and the turn passes around the circle (2 min).
- Each round gets a little faster: walking, brisk walking, then little skips (1 min).
- Finish with “Whole body!”: let go, shake everything out, and join hands again (1 min).
Rules
- Hold hands while the circle turns.
- Whoever has the turn chooses; everyone else waits.
- It's fine to pick the same body part again.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher always picks the body part and touches it to show it.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the turn passes around the circle and each child chooses.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, kids also say how to move it: “head, slowly” or “arms, like windmills.”
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: turn the circle in place by swinging joined arms and move whatever body parts the child can.
- Autism: offer body-part picture cards so the child can point instead of speaking.
- Hearing impairment: the chooser touches the body part in a big, clear way before moving it.
Learning goals
- Warm up the joints gradually.
- Name body parts.
- Lead the game in turns without adult help.
Teacher tip
Once they've got it, step outside the circle and let them run it; it's a great recess game. Make sure quieter kids don't get skipped, and offer them the cards to point with.
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