Diana’s Team Signal

Diana and Angela help their teacher set up a school field game. A short beat on a wooden drum will signal the next group. Then it is their turn to begin.

Diana beats the drum, but the far group keeps waiting. Wind carries the sound across the field. The children cannot hear it clearly above another game nearby.

Angela walks back with the teacher. She explains what the waiting group noticed. They could see Diana beside the starting place. The drum sounded faint from where they stood.

The teacher brings a bright yellow flag from the games box. They agree that Diana will raise it while beating the drum. Everyone will have a signal to see as well as hear.

They show both groups what the raised flag means before starting again. Angela checks that nobody stands behind another player. The flag might be hidden there.

Diana lifts the flag and gives one clear beat with her other hand. The waiting children begin together. Angela smiles. Nobody needs to shout across the field.

For the next round, Diana and Angela swap jobs and check the signal. Their teacher reminds each group to wait for the flag. They must not start by guessing the previous turn has finished.

They pack the drum and flag after everyone has had a turn. “One sound was not clear for all of us,” says Diana, “so we added something everyone could see.”