Rhythm Patterns

Preschool, Kindergarten Math,

Let's get clapping! Help students extend their knowledge of patterns by using rhythm. After making musical
patterns, students will translate the patterns into shape patterns.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to create shape and rhythm patterns using AB, AABB, AAB, and ABB patterns.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Paper pattern
Pencils triangle
Crayons circle
rectangle
square

Introduction (10 minutes)

Say, "Repeat after me," then clap your hands one time. Do the same thing but clap your hands two,
three, and four times.
Tell students that they were creating music with their bodies. Ask students to think of other ways that
they could create sounds with their bodies.
Ask a few students to share a "Repeat After Me" sequence for the class to follow.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (10 minutes)

Demonstrate the following pattern: clap, hands tap floor, clap, hands tap floor.
Tell students that you are making a rhythm pattern and explain what the pattern is.
Explain that this kind of pattern is called an AB pattern. If claps are called "A" and tapping the floor is
called "B", then you are doing A, then B, A, then B.
Write an AB shape pattern on the board: square, triangle, square, triangle. Explain that this is also an AB
pattern.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

Demonstrate an AAB rhythm pattern. This time, clap twice then tap the floor. Have students repeat after
you.
Explain that this isn't an AB pattern. If clapping is A and tapping the floor is B, have students try to figure
out what kind of pattern this is (AAB).
Call on a student to come to the board and draw an AAB shape pattern.
Repeat this process with ABB and AABB patterns.

Independent working time (10 minutes)

Hand out pieces of paper to each student. Have them create five different shape patterns on the page.
Remind students of the different shapes they might use to create their patterns: triangles, circles,
rectangles, and squares.
Then have students work with a partner to translate their shape patterns into rhythm patterns.

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Differentiation

Support: Have students who need extra support work solely with AB patterns.

Enrichment: Have students who are ready for a challenge come up with their own pattern structures to work
with (e.g. AAAB or AABBB).

Assessment (5 minutes)

Assess how students are creating their shape patterns.

Note how students are using and understanding pattern structures (AB, AAB, ABB, AABB).

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Have students share their rhythm patterns with the class. Ask the class to follow along and identify the
pattern structures.

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© 2007 - 2021 Education.com