This is a musical version of the 'Simon Says' game.

Aim: to recognise, internalise and copy rhythms and identify the danger rhythm!

I use this as a musical warm up for all ages even for a learning break between subjects.

The teacher claps a range of rhythms, no more than 4 beats long, using hands, body, voice, even floor and the children copy the rhythms. However if they hear in any form the rhythm 'Don't clap this one back' - they don't clap it back.

Everytime someone claps the rhythm when they aren't supposed to, the teacher gets a point. If no one claps when they hear 'don't clap this one back' the children get a point.

Variation:

• children lead the rhythms and try to get the rest of the children's points.
• yr 5/6 use rhythmic patterns of 8 beats long, thus improving musical memory and use the phrase 'Don't clap this one back otherwise you're out'.

Have fun!