Term 1a

Year 2
Rhythmic Skills 1
Week 3
Resources

Learning Intentions

Rhythm flashcards
Piano/CD player
Classroom percussion

Read note values ta titi ta-a sa ticka-ticka

Read single bars of 4/4 rhythms to the beat
Echo single 4/4 rhythms to the background of a beat
Keep a beat accurately counting 1,2,3,4 at different tempii

Introduction
Show children ten rhythm cards containing 4/4 rhythms made
up from the above note values. *Use Year Group Rhythms sheets
to help.

Q QR QR Q

QR QR Q Q

QAW

ta titi titi ta

titi titi ta ta

ta sa ta-a

W AA
taa sa sa

Targets
Tap out 4/4 rhythms whilst
listening to the beat background
and stopping clearly after each
one and following accurately
the set tempo.

Evaluation

QR Q A A

QTTT QR W

Q A QR Q

titi ta sa sa

tickaticka titi taa

ta sa titi ta

Ask class to clap each back accurately to the tempo set by you
in the intro count 1,2,3,4 make sure the tempo of their
clapping is accurate
Show that each rhythm is 4 beats long see below

Rhythmic Skills 1
Week 3

The time signature (4/4, 3/4, 5/4) indicates how many beats are
in a rhythmic measure, or bar

Q ta 1 beat W taa 2 beats QR titi 1 beat QTTT tickaticka 1 beat

A sa 1 silent beat
So:

4/4 Q

Q QR Q

(ta ta titi ta) is a 4-beat rhythm, or 4/4 rhythm, as

the note values add up to four

Main Activity
Send children to sit in a space and give them one minute in
which to practise as many of the 4-beat rhythms they can see
stuck on the wall - as they can. Ask individual children to clap
back one or two of their rhythms each after a count of 4.
Put on a strong rhythmic backing or play a strong rhythmic
accompaniment on the piano. Tell the class that, every time
you count an intro of 4 to the tempo of the music, they are to
clap back one of their rhythms; make sure they STOP! after each
4/4 rhythm (count of 4 beats of the music) so they get used to
the notion that their rhythms are all the same 4/4 length.
Repeat this activity but now get the children to walk their
rhythms around the room instead of clapping ie their rhythms
are formed by stepping; make sure they freeze after each
rhythm.

Plenary
Ask individual children to make up their own 4/4 rhythms to clap
back or play back on an instrument

Rhythmic Skills 1
Week 3