Classroom Ideas
I just watched a teacher demonstrate a cardio drumming routine in his classroom with pool noodles and now I want to sign up for an adult version at the gym!
Kids will love drumming along to popular songs!
Kent Hamilton has a series of cardio drumming videos on YouTube. They are set to popular songs your students will love, such as:
- “If I Can’t Have You” by Shawn Mendez
- “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X
- “We Will Rock You” by Queen
- “Believer” by Imagine Dragons
- And more.
Some of the routines are done in a gym with an exercise ball inside a laundry basket. This would be great for warm-ups or brain breaks in small groups. (Turn to Facebook to ask for donations of a few exercise balls, laundry baskets, and drumsticks.)
Alternatively, Mr. Hamilton shows how to incorporate cardio desk drumming into the classroom. This is perfect for social distancing. The routines can even be easily adapted for remote learners to do at home.
All of these videos are filmed in an instructional way where students can follow along. Just turn the video on and get everyone on their feet, “drumming” along. You’ll want to do it, too! Teachers need fun brain breaks and opportunities to move as much as students.
Cardio desk drumming
The “Believer” desk routine uses pieces of pool noodle as drum sticks. These are usually available at Dollar Tree and each noodle will make several drum sticks.
Doesn’t this look like a blast?!
The routine switches from drumming on the desk with the noodles, to jogging in place to doing jumping jacks. It also has students bend down to drum down low on each side, crossing the midline, which improves focus.
No pool noodles? No problem! Just use hands instead, or pencils. Any other ideas for what to use as drum sticks? Pop over to the Empowered Teacher community and let us know! We’d love to hear how you incorporate desk drumming in your classroom!
