Rhythm Pulse Activity Book - The Drum Game and Copy me

The Drum Game is an engaging activity designed to enhance children's listening and responding skills. Suitable for a classroom or group setting, the children gather in a circle to participate in this interactive game. The premise of the game is straightforward: the instructor plays different rhythms on a drum, and the children perform specific actions in time with these rhythms. A slow pulse prompts them to clap their hands, a faster pulse means tapping their knees, and the fastest tempo has them twirling their hands in a 'roly poly' motion. When the drumming stops, the children must cease their actions immediately. Initially, the instructor may call out the actions, but as the children's listening skills improve, they are expected to respond to the drum cues alone. The game can be adapted to suit the children's abilities by introducing slower pulses for which they can create their own actions or by incorporating rhythm patterns that require matching claps or taps.

Copy Me is another versatile game that focuses on maintaining rhythm and encourages imitation. The instructor performs a series of actions, often starting with eight repetitions, allowing the children ample time to observe and replicate the movements. As they become more adept, the number of repetitions can be reduced to four or even two to increase the challenge. The game begins with everyone counting the beats aloud, then whispering, and finally internalising the rhythm without vocal counting. It is beneficial to let the children take turns leading the game once they have a sufficient repertoire of actions. This activity serves as an excellent precursor to games that involve following instructions, such as 'Everybody do this' or 'We will copy you', as it provides a foundation of actions for the children to draw upon during subsequent activities.