Teaching Rhythm to Kindergarten Students
Lesson Ideas Involving Rhythm for Young Students
Dec 16, 2008
Teaching rhythm to Kindergarten students can be a fun way to get students moving around the classroom. When writing lesson plans with the objective towards learning rhythm, consider not only the manner in which you teach the students, but which songs would provide the best lesson opportunity, as well as which songs will work for the short attention span the students have.
How to Teach Rhythm
Use the body demonstrate the beat, also called body percussion, will help students feel the beat and learn the rhythm. This can involve having the students clap, tap, or stomp their feet while singing. This reinforces beat in a tactile manner, and helps the students stay focused on what you are doing. You can also use any opportunity you have to get the students up and moving about the room while singing songs. Although this does take decent classroom management skills, it may also help your student's behavior as they are not required to sit still throughout the class period.
What Songs Teach Rhythm
Teaching children about rhythm can be a great time to introduce some fun songs. Lessons involving rhythm can be taught with any song that has a steady beat, which basically means that most songs are good to teach rhythm. Pick songs that the students either already know or are easy to teach, as this will ensure that they already know the basic rhythm.
Some good songs to use for teaching rhythm include songs like Engine Engine Number Nine, and Skip to My Lou. For Engine Engine Number Nine, after teaching the song, have the students form a train and move around the room to the beat of the train in the song. For Skip to My Lou, have the students walk, march, or skip around the room to the beat of the song.
Keep Attention Span in Mind
Because a Kindergarten age child has a relatively short attention span, keep your songs short and varied. Do several songs per class period. It is better to do 3 five minute songs, assuming a 20 minute class period, than to spend 15 minutes on one song. So once again, choose songs that are either easy to teach, or that the students are already somewhat familiar with.
Do not be afraid to experiment with your class as you teach the concept of rhythm. Reflect on your lesson after you have taught it, decide where there is room for improvement, and work to improve it for the next class you teach it to.
You may also be interested in using STOMP to teach rhythm in the classroom.
Read more tips for music teachers.
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