Down By The Banks

This rhythmic circle game creates an engaging blend of song, movement and friendly competition. Down By The Banks transforms a simple hand-slapping action into an energetic experience that builds group coordination. The playful combination of rhythm and anticipation keeps everyone focused and entertained while fostering a lively atmosphere of fun.

Down By The Banks – Rhythmic Circle Game

1. Form into small groups of 8 to 12 people.
2. By way of demonstration, ask one group to form a circle and invite everyone else to gather around to watch and listen.
3. Each person in the circle holds out their left hand in front of them, palm facing up.
4. Then everyone places their right hand, palm facing up, on top of their (right-hand side) neighbour’s left hand.
5. With each beat of a short song (you will soon teach them,) one person at a time will slap their right hand (arcing right to left) into the upturned hand of their left-hand side neighbour.
6. This process of slapping hands into the palm of their left-hand side neighbours continues around the circle, as long as it takes for the song to complete.
7. As soon as an individual slaps their hand, they quickly reset it on top of the hand from whence it came.
8. Teach the lyrics of the following song, keeping the rhythm of a familiar beat (X:)
   DOWN (X) BY THE BANKS (X) OF THE HANKY (X) PANKY (X)
   WHERE THE BULL (X) FROG JUMPS (X) FROM THE BANK (X) TO BANKY (X)
   SINGING EEEPS (X), IIIPS (X), OOOPS (X), UUUPS (X)
   KNEE-SUCKER (X) DILLY DALLY (X)
   DING (X), DANG (X), DONG (X)
9. Practice the lyrics of the song several times along with slapping hands right to left on the beats (X.)
10. Each person aims to remain in the game for as long as possible.
11. The person who has their hand slapped on the final word of the song (“DONG”) is eliminated.
12. Start when ready, eliminating people one by one with each round of the song.
13. The person to the left of the person eliminated starts the new round.
14. Game concludes when the last two people play a quick round of ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors’ to determine the winner.