Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can play singing games with awareness of beat, rhythm, and pitch.

Key learning points

  1. Moving and singing together when we play singing games helps us to feel the beat.
  2. As we repeat songs, we become more familiar with the rhythm of the words, and the way the pitch moves.
  3. The beat of a song stays steady, like a ticking clock, while the rhythm follows the pattern of the words.
  4. When we know a song very well, it is easier to clap or play the rhythm.

Keywords

  • Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

  • Call and response - a question and answer musical structure

  • Pitch - how high or low a note is

Common misconception

Beat and rhythm are the same thing.

The beat is the playing or showing of the steady pulse, while the the rhythm is a pattern of sounds we play or sing.

Teacher tip

The use of puppets or props is encouraged when playing singing games.

Equipment

Puppets or props as needed, such as: bumble bee finger puppet, a doggy bone and a dog hand puppet, and a magic wand prop. You will also need three types of unpitched percussion isntruments.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

4 Questions

Q1.
We call the words of the song, the ...

echo
Correct answer: lyrics
call

Q2.
When we sing songs with high notes and low notes, we are singing a ...

Correct answer: melody
chant
body percussion pattern

Q3.
Call and response is a and answer musical structure.

Correct Answer: question

Q4.
What is a syllable?

Correct answer: a part of a word
an exact copy of a musical phrase
a gentle, soothing song to help us sleep

4 Questions

Q1.
Can you clap and chant this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Ta-di Ta-di Ta-di Ta

Q2.
Doggie, Doggie is an example of a __________ musical structure.

echo
Correct answer: call and response
warm up

Q3.
The __________ is the pattern of sounds and silences that we sing and play.

Correct answer: rhythm
tempo
timbre
dynamics

Q4.
How would you clap and chant this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Ta-di Ta-di Ta Ta
Ta Ta-di Ta Ta-di
Correct answer: Ta-di Ta Ta-di Ta

To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Bringing it together, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...