Description
Students establish a instant spirit of ensemble by clapping in unison with the person to their left or right depending on the directing of the clapping wave.
Materials
none needed
Space Required
an area big enough for students to stand in a circleInstructions
Students stand in a circle. One person begins by turning to the person to their right or left. Direct eye contact is made. The person initiates a hand clap trying to clap in unison with the person with whom s/he is making eye contact. Once the clap is made the person who received the clap then turns to the next person, makes direct eye contact, and tries to clap in unison with her/him. This action continues around the circle. The direction of the clap changes when the person receiving the clap claps a second time with the person initiating the first hand clap. Students need to follow the movement of the clapping wave so they are ready when the clap comes to them. The goal is to be able to not only clap in unison but to insure the clapping wave is not broken. When the students get good at this the clapping wave moves with great rapidity.
Adaptations
The clap can be a finger snap or a "high five" or any physical movement that can be done at the same time with one person acting as the initiator and the other as the receiver. A noise can be added to the clap as well.