Wooden Toy Soldiers March to the Drum
Children are wooden toy soldiers from a toy box who march to the beat of the drum: knees up, opposite arms swinging, and turning around on a signal. It works on rhythmic marching, arm and leg coordination and changing direction.
How to play
- The toy soldiers are packed in the toy box (everyone lying down, stiff); the teacher opens the box and wakes them up (1 min).
- We march in place to the drum, lifting our knees high and swinging our arms (2 min).
- We march around the space to the beat: slow drum, slow march; fast drum, fast march (3 min).
- Two loud beats: about-face and march the other way; one beat: stand at attention (3 min).
- We parade in a line behind a captain, who changes every so often (2 min).
- The toy soldiers go back in the toy box and sleep until tomorrow (1 min).
Rules
- March to the beat of the drum.
- Knees go up and arms swing.
- Two beats: turn around; one beat: attention.
- In the parade, follow the captain without passing.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just march in place and around the space, no turns.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the about-face and standing at attention.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, they try swinging the opposite arm to the leg, and the captain calls left and right turns.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: they march with their arms to the drum, from their wheelchair or sitting down.
- Hearing impairment: they stand close to the drum to feel the vibration, and the teacher shows the beat with a hand.
- Less coordination: don't require opposite arm and leg; marching to the beat is enough.
Learning goals
- March to a beat.
- Coordinate arms and legs while walking.
- Change direction on a sound cue.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
A slow beat is harder than a fast one, so practice it several times. Counting "one, two" out loud helps a lot.
PatioLab has "Wooden Toy Soldiers March to the Drum" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…