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A resource center for teachers to enhance learning through integrating movement, exploration and mindfulness into classroom lessons. Many of the activities can be adapted to be used on a playground, at home, in the boardroom and beyond.
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Tap Four
How to Play:
- Students may stand or remain seated.
- Either have a piece of paper that has each corner labeled with numbers 1 through 4, or identify an imaginary square on the tabletop in front of them (corners of their desk if they have individual desks)
- Starting with their left hand, have students alternate while tapping the numbers in order. Repeat a few times.
- 1 left hand, 2 right hand, 3 left hand, 4 right hand
- Switch to begin the sequence with the right hand instead. Repeat a few times.
- 1 right hand, 2 left hand, 3 right hand, 4 left hand
- Once the left-and-right rhythm has been established, begin calling numbers in random patterns. Students tap the numbers following the left-right-left-right sequence.
- Caller says: 4 – 2- 1 – 1 – 3 – 2 – 3 -4 etc.
- Students tap numbers in that order using left 4, right 2, left 1, right 1, left 3, right 2, etc.
- Point of the activity is not to go quickly to “mess up” the students. Intention is to make students pay more attention and not assume a pattern.
Variations:
- Use colors or letters instead of numbers.
- Use pictures in each corner.
- Call out “odd” or “even” instead of the actual number.
- Have the square on the floor and have students use their feet rather than their hands.
- Have the square on the wall, or use an existing piece of paper on the wall.
- Use paper from the recycle bin to put numbers on if a student requires a solid visual cue, or have multiple pages printed up and saved to use at any time.