Every year this is a favorite activity for many kids. I love seeing their eyes light up as they start to "get it" and fall in love with making new rhythm patterns to clap.
Here's my simple strategy -- borrowed and modified from where? I'd love it if someone told me where I got this idea.
I drew some red quarter notes and double purple eighth notes on 3x5 index cards. My cards are getting so old! It's time to make some new ones.
First I show the kids a single red quarter note, and ask them what they see. Of course it's red. We also see it has a round part -- a head, and a long line -- a stem.
I tell them we will call it "red" like its color, and when I point to it, we will all say "RED".
Then they learn that when I point to the note, we will say "RED" AND clap one time.
Next I line up four red notes. We practice saying the name first:
RED RED RED RED
Now clapping hands ready! We clap and say RED for each note.
So GOOD!
Ready for something more?
I show them the eighth note pair on a single card. What is different?
It is purple. Good! What else? This will take a little time, but we discover it has two heads!
Would you like to have two heads? I teach them to say PUR-PLE when I point to the note. I point to each note head.
We then learn to clap for each note head (syllable), so we clap two times. PUR-PLE
Now there are four cards of purple notes. We say them first.
Then we clap them.
PUR-PLE PUR-PLE PUR-PLE PUR-PLE
Ready for something more?
I line up the four red cards, and under them the four purple cards. We say them first, going left to right, top line to bottom line. (Reading readiness)
Now, clapping hands ready! We say and clap both lines.
RED RED RED RED
PUR-PLE PUR-PLE PUR-PLE PUR-PLE
Ready for something more? (Yes, they are!)
Rearrange the cards to create a very simple mixed rhythm. Say it first, Then clap and say.
RED RED PUR-PLE PUR-PLE
I try not to go too long with this activity at any one time, because one or two children may not ready for this, and they get very frustrated or bored. The ones who understand will get enthusiastic and want to grab the cards to start creating patterns. Next time! They are so full of great ideas.
Transition:
Now stand up and stomp our last rhythm!
RED RED PUR-PLE PUR-PLE
RED RED PUR-PLE PUR-PLE
Follow up:
Lately I have been inserting our rhythm cards briefly before storytime. I "warm up" the kids by doing our 4 reds & 4 purples, and then choose one child to create a mixed pattern. I'm keeping track, so everyone will eventually have a turn. We always say it first, then clap it together.
