Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 3
Composing and notating on rhythm grids
I can compose and refine a rhythm composition using stick notation on a rhythm grid.
- Year 3
Composing and notating on rhythm grids
I can compose and refine a rhythm composition using stick notation on a rhythm grid.
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
- Stick notation is one way of representing different rhythms on a rhythm grid.
- Effective compositions make use of simple, memorable ideas and repetition.
- Rhythms are built up of notes of differing durations.
Keywords
Stick notation - a way of writing rhythms down
Compose - to create a piece of music over time
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Duration - the length of a sound or silence
Common misconception
The more complicated rhythms we use when we compose, the better our music will sound.
Successful music is repetitive, playable and memorable!
To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Composing and notating on rhythm grids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Composing and notating on rhythm grids, 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 2 music lessons from the Compose and Create: notating and performing using rhythm grids unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Selection of untuned percussion instruments.
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a composer?
Q2.How does chanting the Takadimi rhythms help us?
Q3.Can you clap and chant this rhythm?

Q4.__________ are how loud and quiet the music is.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Tick some ways that are likely to make a successful rhythm composition.
Q2.What instructions might be included on a rhythm grid?
Q3.When we write new music, we are .
Q4.Can you clap and chant this rhythm?
