Find the Beat

Skill: Jump

Time Required: 20

Activity Type: Physical

Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group

Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs

Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field

Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.

Equipment: Audio Equipment and Music (with a distinct beat); here are some example of songs to use: "We Will Rock You" by Queen, "Stayin Alive" Bee Gees, "Hey Ya" Outkast, "Ice Ice Baby" Vanilla Ice, "Wings" Lil' Mix, instrumentals of a song, and any song that has a distinct beat and a good tempo.
Drum or another piece of equipment that can create a beat.

Objective:

Participants will follow the beat of the music by doing different movements and actions.
Other Skills:
Creative and Rhythmic Movements
Coordination

Set up:

Have the audio equipment and music set up with the songs selected.
Or have the drum, other instrument or other object to keep the beat prepared.

Step by Step:

1. Play a song with a distinct beat, or have a leader play a drum or another instrument to create the beat.
2. Have participants start by standing in a circle or have them all facing a leader.
3. The leader will tell the participants what movements or actions to do for each beat.
4. Example of movements and actions: clap, stomp with right/left foot, jump, head tilt, snap, jump, kick, toe tap, do two of these at ones (stomp and clap).
5. Have participants clap for 8 beats, then have them switch to jumping and so on.
6. Participants can walk around to the beat while doing these actions as well.
7. After participants practice doing actions to a beat, the leader will give them a sequence they have to follow.
8. Example of a sequence: Clap for 8 beats, stomp right foot for 4 beats, stomp left foot for 4 beats, put right arm in the air and down for 8 beats (up is one beat and bringing it down is one beat), left arm in the air and down for 8 beats, march to the beat while bringing their arms in front of them and then back for 8 beats and so on.
9. Have participants get into groups of 3-5, and have them come up with actions and movements to 16 beats of a song.
10. Encourage them to be creative and unique.
11. Groups can perform their actions and movements to the 16 beats to the whole group at the end. Or have two groups get together, and they teach each other their group's 16 beats, and then those two groups perform the two together for the rest of the group.

Variations:

Optional to incorporate objects into the movements and actions; such as a soccer ball, juggling scarves, hoops, skipping rope and so on. Participants could do toe taps on the soccer ball for some beats, dribble for a few beats, jump over the ball for a beat and so on. Participants could do different skipping techniques for different beats, pass the juggling scarves to each other, jump in hoops and so on. Allow the participants to use their creativity!
Have a participant for each group keep the beat with a drum or other instrument or object.

Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.