Third Grade Stick Passing Game

Students in third grade learned the Ghanaian song "Tiriba Ya." The loose translation of the song is  "Come and dance/play." This summer, I learned this song and a stick passing game that was created by one of my master teachers. This is NOT a traditional West African nor Ghanaian stick passing game, however, it is similar to some of the stick or stone passing games you might see played in the region.

Below are 3 videos that show 3 different stick passing patterns the third grade learned.  Each pattern increases in intensity and difficulty.

Pattern #1: This is a simple pattern where students play a repeated rhythmic pattern and just pass the sticks to their neighbor. Tap-Tap-pass

Pattern #2: In this pattern, students alternate between performing the pattern with the sticks then playing the pattern on their bodies, also known as body percussion. The sticks are still passed, but you only use them every other time. 

Pattern #3: In this pattern, sticks are taken out and every other person has the sticks. If you have the sticks, you perform the pattern using the sticks then pass. When you do not have the sticks, you perform the pattern using body percussion. So students had to alternate between two different ways of performing the patterns in quick succession. 

Third grade did a fabulous job and we had a great time! Enjoy!