Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 2
Developing pulse and moving in time to the music
I can move in time to the pulse whilst singing.
- Year 2
Developing pulse and moving in time to the music
I can move in time to the pulse whilst singing.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- We keep a steady pulse while we sing so that we can stay in time with others.
- We can move to the pulse so that we can feel the steady beat of the music in our bodies.
- 2-time has a beat pattern of strong-weak.
- A fast tempo has a fast pulse. A slow tempo has a slow pulse.
Keywords
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Tempo - how fast or slow the music is played
2-time - the organisation and feel of the beats as strong-weak
Common misconception
The beat is the same as the rhythm of the words.
The pulse is like a steady beat that stays the same, even when the rhythm of the words changes. Clap the beat whilst saying words to show how they are different.
To help you plan your year 2 music lesson on: Developing pulse and moving in time to the music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 2 music lesson on: Developing pulse and moving in time to the music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 music lessons from the Singing for performance: adding a simple vocal accompaniment unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.