Pass the rhythm is a great circle time activity for preschool and kindergarten kids, but it can also be used with older kids if you make the rhythm rules more complex.

Simplest Version

In the “simple game” version, the adult leader makes up a quick rhythm (maybe limit these to three hits), using different parts of the body. For example, tap your head once, and then your knees twice. The children must watch and listen carefully and then copy the same rhythm!

When they are successful, move on to another rhythm. For example, tap your shoulders, then legs, then feet. Then have the children copy again.

Next Level

When they become good at the simplest version, you may want to move on to a harder version of the game. In this version the children will make up their own rhythms. Start with the first child in the circle. They make up a rhythm of three actions, for example, tap head then shoulders then legs. The others copy them. If they are successful, go to the next kid in the circle and it’s their turn to make up a new rhythm. Continue as time permits or until everyone has had a turn.

Adding More Difficulty

If the kids are too good at replicating three action rhythms, simply make the number of actions four or five and see how they do with more actions.

Older Kids and Teens

For older kids and teens, use a more challenging version of this game in which:

  • The first kid in the circle says their name and performs one rhythm action.
  • The next kid says the name of the kid before them, then their own name, and then performs the rhythm action that was passed to them, adding a new rhythm action to the first one.
  • The next kid says the name of the kid before them, then their own name, then performs three rhythm actions (adding one of their own to the growing chain of actions).
  • Continue until everyone in the circle has added something to the rhythm chain.