Unit Plan 13 (Grade K Music): Creating Rhythms
Kindergarten music unit where students create short clap/tap rhythms, explore rests and steady beat, and organize patterns using simple icons or recordings.
Focus: Create short rhythmic ideas through clapping and tapping, and begin organizing them with simple icons or recordings.
Grade Level: K
Subject Area: Music (Creating • Performing)
Total Unit Duration: 2–4 sessions (2+ weeks), 20–30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become rhythm creators as they make their own short clap and tap patterns using hands, laps, and simple instruments. They experiment with one and two sounds, spaces (rests), and steady beat while taking turns to share their ideas. With guidance, they begin to organize these patterns using picture icons or simple recordings so they can remember and repeat what they created.
Essential Questions
- How can I create my own rhythm using claps, taps, and quiet spaces?
- How do I know if two rhythm patterns are the same or different?
- How can pictures or symbols help me remember the rhythm I made?
- How can I listen and take turns so everyone can share their rhythm ideas?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- With guidance, create short rhythm patterns (1–2 measures of claps/taps) using body percussion.
- Explore different ways of playing rhythms (e.g., loud/soft, fast/slow) while keeping a simple, steady beat.
- With guidance, choose and arrange icon cards or drawings to show the order of sounds in a created rhythm.
- Perform their own rhythm idea for the class and repeat it more than once.
- Work with a partner or small group to organize and share a simple group rhythm pattern.
Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (NAfME-Aligned)
- MU:Cr1.1.Kb — With guidance, generate musical ideas through movement, improvisation, or sound exploration.
- Example: Creating movements to match a short song.
- MU:Cr2.1.Ka — With guidance, organize personal musical ideas using iconic notation and/or recording technology.
- Example: Drawing symbols to represent loud and soft sounds.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can make up a short rhythm using claps or taps.
- I can tell if a rhythm is the same or different from mine.
- I can use pictures or symbols to show the rhythm I created.
- I can share and repeat my rhythm for the class.
- I can work with my classmates to build and perform a group rhythm.