Learning about rhythm
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the rhythm in songs I sing, and I know the difference between beat and rhythm.
Key learning points
- Most music has a steady beat. The beat can be fast or slow.
- When the beat is fast, we say it has a fast tempo. When the beat is slow we say it has a slow tempo.
- The rhythm matches the pattern of the words or syllables in a song.
- Using stick notation is one way of writing down the rhythm of a song.
Keywords
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Tempo - how fast or slow the music is played
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
Syllable - a part of a word
Stick notation - a way of writing rhythms down
Common misconception
Beat and rhythm are the same thing.
These two key words are often confused. The beat is the playing or showing of the steady heartbeat, while the rhythm is the pattern of sounds we play or sing. One stays steady, while the other is made up of a pattern of longer or shorter sounds.
Teacher tip
Be really clear and consistent when using the key words beat and rhythm in this and other lessons. Recognise pupils who show a steady beat or accurate rhythm in these activities and ask them to demontrate for others.
Equipment
Two different types of unpitched percussion isntruments. Enough for half the class each.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.We before singing to protect and strengthen our voice.
Q2.Which musical element do we feel when we play a steady beat?
Q3.What is a percussion instrument?
Q4.What is the beat?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A syllable is ...
Q2.Music can be written down using .
Q3.The __________ is the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing.
Q4.What is tempo?
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Learning about rhythm, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Learning about rhythm, 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 Start with singing: learning through singing games unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.