Lesson Plan 7- Exploring Beat and Rhythm
Age: 3-5 years.
Location: Indoor activity.
Lesson duration: 20 minutes.
Number of children: Open group.
Rationale: Children need to have musical literacy in the basic elements of music such as learning to identify beat and rhythm in order to develop confidence in their own abilities to express themselves musically. Learning these basic yet vital musical elements will set the foundation for a life long appreciation for music.
Objectives: Children will learn to identify the beat and rhythm in different pieces of music. Children will understand what is meant by a steady beat and rhythm. Children will be able to compose as a small group.
Lesson:
Introduction:
Begin by asking children to sit in a circle and explain that in todays lesson they are going to learn about the musical concepts of beat and rhythm, using the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star". First recite the words to the song a couple of times and play the song for the children to become acquainted with the music and words.
Main Component of Lesson:
Beat
Ask children to place their hand over their heart to feel the pulse of their heart beats. Explain that in music there is also a steady beat that stays the same throughout, and sets the tempo (pace/time) for the music. Explain to the children what the beat is (heartbeat of the music) and how to find it in the music by finding the underlying pulse in a piece. Have the students pat their legs with their hands or clap to the beat (start the beat and they can copy what you do). Once they understand what the beat is sing or play the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star". Ask the children to practice keeping the beat to the song. Pay attention for correct beat keeping.
Rhythm
Next introduce the concept of rhythm. Explain that the rhythm is the arrangement of sounds as they move through time or the patterns of sounds. Demonstrate this concept by clapping your hands to a specific rhythm. Clap out the rhythm of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” by clapping on each syllable—“Twin/kle, twin/kle, lit/tle star,” and so on. Then ask the children to copy you.
Practice both the beat and rhythm of "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" for a few minutes so all children can have a chance to understand how to keep the beat and create rhythm.
Conclusion:
To finish, play "follow the leader". Start alternating clapping between the beat and the rhythm, getting children to follow and identify which is the beat and which is the rhythm, in order to demonstrate understanding of the difference between the two.
Key events:
Introduction of key concepts- beat and rhythm.
Ask children to follow clapping the beat and rhythm to the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star".
Finish by asking children to identify the beat and rhythm demonstrating understanding of the key concepts.
Resources:
Cleared area on the floor.
"Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" music CD.
Optional: Musical instruments to tap out the beat and rhythm.
Assessment:
Observe participation and correct clapping of beat and rhythm. Identify if children talk about beat and rhythm in music? Are children participating in the activity? Are they clapping correctly to the beat and rhythm? Can children work together as a group?
Extension Activity:
Children should listen to different pieces of music, such as "head and shoulders, knees and toes" and clap out the beat and rhythm of the music. Musical instruments could also be introduced for sounding out the beat and rhythm to music.
Links to framework: (VEYLDF 2009).
Outcome 1: Identity- Initiate and join in activities. Respond to ideas and suggestions from others.
Outcome 2: Community- Understand different ways of contributing through play .
Outcome 3: Wellbeing- Combine gross and fine motor movement and balance to achieve increasingly complex patterns of activity through creative movement.
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners- Children are curious and enthusiastic participants in their learning.
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators- Use language and representations from music to share and project meaning.
Age: 3-5 years.
Location: Indoor activity.
Lesson duration: 20 minutes.
Number of children: Open group.
Rationale: Children need to have musical literacy in the basic elements of music such as learning to identify beat and rhythm in order to develop confidence in their own abilities to express themselves musically. Learning these basic yet vital musical elements will set the foundation for a life long appreciation for music.
Objectives: Children will learn to identify the beat and rhythm in different pieces of music. Children will understand what is meant by a steady beat and rhythm. Children will be able to compose as a small group.
Lesson:
Introduction:
Begin by asking children to sit in a circle and explain that in todays lesson they are going to learn about the musical concepts of beat and rhythm, using the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star". First recite the words to the song a couple of times and play the song for the children to become acquainted with the music and words.
Main Component of Lesson:
Beat
Ask children to place their hand over their heart to feel the pulse of their heart beats. Explain that in music there is also a steady beat that stays the same throughout, and sets the tempo (pace/time) for the music. Explain to the children what the beat is (heartbeat of the music) and how to find it in the music by finding the underlying pulse in a piece. Have the students pat their legs with their hands or clap to the beat (start the beat and they can copy what you do). Once they understand what the beat is sing or play the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star". Ask the children to practice keeping the beat to the song. Pay attention for correct beat keeping.
Rhythm
Next introduce the concept of rhythm. Explain that the rhythm is the arrangement of sounds as they move through time or the patterns of sounds. Demonstrate this concept by clapping your hands to a specific rhythm. Clap out the rhythm of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” by clapping on each syllable—“Twin/kle, twin/kle, lit/tle star,” and so on. Then ask the children to copy you.
Practice both the beat and rhythm of "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" for a few minutes so all children can have a chance to understand how to keep the beat and create rhythm.
Conclusion:
To finish, play "follow the leader". Start alternating clapping between the beat and the rhythm, getting children to follow and identify which is the beat and which is the rhythm, in order to demonstrate understanding of the difference between the two.
Key events:
Introduction of key concepts- beat and rhythm.
Ask children to follow clapping the beat and rhythm to the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star".
Finish by asking children to identify the beat and rhythm demonstrating understanding of the key concepts.
Resources:
Cleared area on the floor.
"Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" music CD.
Optional: Musical instruments to tap out the beat and rhythm.
Assessment:
Observe participation and correct clapping of beat and rhythm. Identify if children talk about beat and rhythm in music? Are children participating in the activity? Are they clapping correctly to the beat and rhythm? Can children work together as a group?
Extension Activity:
Children should listen to different pieces of music, such as "head and shoulders, knees and toes" and clap out the beat and rhythm of the music. Musical instruments could also be introduced for sounding out the beat and rhythm to music.
Links to framework: (VEYLDF 2009).
Outcome 1: Identity- Initiate and join in activities. Respond to ideas and suggestions from others.
Outcome 2: Community- Understand different ways of contributing through play .
Outcome 3: Wellbeing- Combine gross and fine motor movement and balance to achieve increasingly complex patterns of activity through creative movement.
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners- Children are curious and enthusiastic participants in their learning.
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators- Use language and representations from music to share and project meaning.
Twinkle Twikle, Little Star (Youtube 2010).