Ideas & inspiration from the developers of the Responsive Classroom approach

Children of all ages enjoy “Dum Dum Dah Dah.” In this quick movement break,  a leader establishes a pattern and the group chants or sings the words as they echo the leader’s actions. (This, and the other energizers in this series, are from Energizers! 88 Quick Movement Activities That Refresh and Refocus, by Susan Lattanzi Roser.)

Dum Dum Dah Dah

1. If necessary, discuss the meaning of the word “echo.”
2. Share ways to maintain self-control while staying in one place.
3. Now begin. Children simply repeat your words and actions, like this:

Leader says:

Dum Dum and claps thighs twice, then Dah Dah and claps hands twice.

Group echoes leader, saying:

Dum Dum while clapping thighs twice, then Dah Dah and clapping hands twice.

4. Repeat, varying movements and pace as you wish. Try starting off at a low energy level, moving up to medium, and then on to high. Then, transition back down through the energy levels in reverse,  ending with very calm movements. During the last round, whispering the words or softly saying “Shh Shh shh shh!” works well.

Movement ideas: Touching toes, reaching far to right and then left, nodding head up and down or side to side, snapping fingers, reaching forwards and then behind back, reaching up high, bending at waist, moving knees up and down as if marching, doing jumping jacks, making large arms circles, jumping high and then touching ground

Want to see what it looks like? (Follow the link to see a video clip of staffers from Northeast Foundation for Children who volunteered to demonstrate this energizer for you.)

Read other posts from the Energizers! series:

• Using Quick Movement Breaks in the Classroom (February 9, 2010)
• Tips for Using Energizers (February 16, 2010)
• Energizers! Double This Double That (February 24, 2010)
• “Interruptions, One with an Academic Twist” (March 2, 2010)

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