We love taking advantage of the beautiful weather in June, especially since Manitoba has some pretty long, chilly winters. Here is how to play Rhythm Squares!
- Using a four square grid in the playground, draw different 4-beat rhythm patterns in each square.
- Split the class into two teams, lining up one behind the other in two lines about ten feet away from the rhythm squares.
- Clap one of the four rhythms. The first person from each team finds the rhythm and runs to step on it.
- The first person to step on the rhythm gets a point for their team!
- Both players return to their lines and the next two people face off.
- After each student had a turn the round is complete and the team with the most points wins!
- The kids LOVE this!
Here's a great music room activity that can be used with students of almost any age! Buy multi-coloured plastic balls, the type used in ball pits. These can sometimes be found at places like Walmart, but are often less expensive and more readily available online (eBay or Amazon). For entire class activities, buy 200-300+ balls. Write a one beat rhythm on each ball (ta, ti-ti, rest, ti-ka-ti-ka, etc). Make sure each colour has a variety of rhythms (ie: don't make all the blue balls ti-ti). See below for the game instructions!
- Divide class into 3 teams. Each team sits in a row at one end of the room. Place a plastic or inflatable kiddie pool filled with all the rhythm balls at the opposite end of the room.
- Display a 4-beat rhythm (ie: ti-ka-ti-ka ta rest rest). On your signal, one person from each team rushes to the ball pit and searches for the four balls that will create the rhythm. Students should not get into the ball pit but rather just kneel beside it and reach in.
- They must come back with the four balls and display them in the correct order to win the points that round. An egg carton, depending on the size of balls you use, will display the balls nicely.
- This is a high-energy game! Create various bonus rounds and speed rounds to really get the students pumped!
- As an extension, prep the balls with a rhythm on one side and a staff note on the other side. Now your game is dual purpose: rhythmic reading and note reading! Sing or play a simple four note melody. Students must now find the four notes that make up your melody.
- There are many possibilities for the ball pit! Tip: when not in use, store the balls in a mesh laundry bag.
Enjoy your summer! Make sure to rest, relax and rejuvenate!