Printed from the MusicK8.com Idea Bank

Outside Activities: Hula Hoops & Rhythm Instrument Relays

Submitted by Teri Marconi

Idea posted 2002-09-10

Just for fun... I have 3 or 4 hoola hoops. Form relay teams. Have children in each team form a straight line, and then place the hoola hoop over the first person at one end. On "go," the hoola hoop must be passed all the way down to the other end AND BACK without any letting go of the others' hands. It is fun to see the creative ways that the kids pass the hoop (some over the neck, some over the hips, etc.). If they DO drop hands, they have to start all over again.

Musical theme(d) relays are fun and keep everyone busy. I also do a rhythm instrument relay. Each team gets equal numbers of rhythm instruments in a box. On "go," the end person picks up one instrument, plays it, and passes the instrument down (each person must play the instrument before passing to the next), and it must come all the way back to the first person. Continue until all rhythm instruments have been played. You can set up a rhythm pattern they must do if you want to, but I often let them "do their own thing."