Instruct children to put their hands in their laps as you or a helper quickly distribute sticks to those who have their hands in their laps. Tell them that they may keep their sticks as long as they follow the instructions. Watch for deliberate deviations and remove sticks from those children immediately. You may return the sticks after a few instructions if they seem willing to cooperate.

Mistakes and lack of coordination are a different issue and should be lovingly accepted. Perhaps a helper can assist a child who is really trying, but is having difficulty.

When all sticks are distributed, pick up one stick and hold it out in front of you and instruct the children to do the same. As soon as they all pick up one stick and do what you did, instruct them to lay it down again next to the other stick. Instruct the children to copy your next movements carefully. Try to do this without words. Smile the praises as they succeed.

• pick up the same stick again, and lay it down in a different position
• pick up the left stick and hold it out in front of you
• pick up the right stick and hold it out in front of you
• return the left stick to the floor and the right stick to the floor
• pick up the left stick and hold it straight out
• pick up the right stick and hold it straight up
• return the left stick to the floor and the right stick to the floor
• pick up the left stick and hold it straight out and then the right stick and hold it straight up
• keep the left stick stationary in front of you and tap it with the right stick one time
• tap two times
• tap one time
• tap two times
• instruct students to tap with you five times
• vary the number of taps several times between one and five
• instruct students to tap as fast as they can one time, but to be sure and stop when the teacher stops
• repeat the fast tap again and the do a slow tap one or two times
• put the sticks down and instruct students to do the same
• collect the sticks and praise children for their cooperation