Echo Calls: Repeat the Rhythm and Tone

Materials

• Mat or stable chairs
• Optional microphone for a large group

How to play

1. Leave fire management to the facility and responsible staff. Sit in designated seats and choose one facilitator. Agree to respond together only after the call has finished.
2. The facilitator says a short original phrase, such as “mountain, sea, sky,” with clear, regular spacing. Everyone echoes the same words and timing.
3. Practise three times in a normal voice. Then have the facilitator vary the delivery—slower, slightly higher, or like a robot—and have everyone copy that delivery.
4. Wait for each response to finish before the next call. If the timing slips, pause; the facilitator raises one hand to signal everyone to listen again. Do not compete over volume or breath length.
5. Finish a round after trying three different deliveries. Invite another facilitator and complete two more rounds. End with a final response together in a quiet voice.

Ways to adapt

For preschool children, an adult nearby models words of two or three syllables. Older primary school children and adults can use short sentences. Participants who find speech difficult may copy the facilitator’s hand movements or expressions.

Sources and references

• The Scout Association／Campfire songs - Repeat after me songs（呼びかけを繰り返し、声色を変える形式） ↗
• The Scout Association／Campfire safety（参加者の見守りと火の管理の分担） ↗