Candy Rhythms

Candy is a relevant topic for my kids any day all the time, but right after Halloween candy is all they want to talk about. I decided to use that to my advantage with a connection to rhythm.

My district is really pushing for essential questions in the classroom. For this lesson, I actually really liked using one. I put this question on the board: “How does rhythm relate to language?” We discussed it, and at first the main answer I got was a shrug. Then we talked about rap and hip-hop using words with rhythms, which blew their minds. It was a good hook for when we entered into the candy rhythm activity.

The manipulatives were pretty easy to make. I found images of several popular candies, printed them out, and had them laminated. The best part about this is I can use the same manipulatives in several different ways. Here are the four I am using, but I am sure there are more. If you use something similar in a different way, I would love to know!

1.) Partner work, notating rhythms

After reviewing previous rhythms, we took candies and assigned rhythms to them. If you like, you could give each candy an assigned rhythm. I wanted to up the rigor, so kids were welcome to use whichever candy they wanted as long as each syllable of the word was represented. Kit-Kat, for example, could be both paired eighth notes and a dotted quarter/eighth rhythm.

Once kids had the idea, we decided on a candy as a class and students decided which rhythm they wanted with the candy. They then notated those rhythms. After being comfortable with working on the same rhythm as a class, kids created their own rhythms with their partner and performed them for another group.

Here is an example of a page from my SMART file for this activity. 

2.) Guided identification

For first grade, rhythms are still a fairly new concept so candy rhythm was a bit more structured and guided. We started with using the smart board to make connections between syllables and note heads (yeah cross-curricular!) and matching rhythms to candies. Then, we added manipulatives. Students used a sorter with definitions to sort tiny quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. We then used those rhythms to match them to the correct candy. The kids LOVED this activity. They were eerily well behaved with bubbles in their mouths the whole class so they had more time for "the candies". My latest formal observation happened to fall during this lesson, and my admin loved it too.

A page from the SMART file.

3.) Rhythm Flash Cards

I have a GIANT pile of rhythm flash cards, so this allows students to start with the rhythm and find a candy to match. There are several answers to each card, so students enjoy comparing with a partner and checking each other’s work.

4) Composition/Performance Task

Since we already use the manipulatives to help us identify rhythms, using them as tools for composition is a natural transition. Students are given some parameters (time signature, how many beats, required rhythms, and so on) and complete their composition alone or with partners. Once the rhythm can be completed with clapping, students move their composition to a non-pitched percussion instrument of their choice.

My district is also big on performance tasks, and this activity can absolutely fit the bill. If you would like to approach this as a performance task, here is a sample scenario (feel free to switch out any specific to work for you):

A candy store has hired you to create a chant for a commercial using the names of popular candies. You will create an eight beat chant in 4/4 time using the names of at least four candies. Your rhythm must include at least one dotted quarter/single eighth OR one triplet. You can also use whole notes, dotted half notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes wholes rests, half rests, or eighth rests. You may perform this rhythm using body percussion or non-pitched percussion. Your chant will be recorded so it can be sent to the candy store CEO for approval.

Here it is all pretty:

Looking for more ideas for rhythm? There are several in this post.

Hope you found a delicious idea to take back to your classroom!

Manipulative Monday: Rhythm Round Up

My first graders just started their rhythm unit, and it really is one of my favorite times of the year. There are just so many good ideas for teaching rhythm! Below are a few of my favorites. If you wish, most of these would be easy to turn into stations.

Chair Rhythm

An oldie but a goodie. I got this from Jim Solomon, but this is so common there must be more than one source. You set up four chairs, and inform the kids that each person is a sound and each chair is a beat. I have them count the number of heads; one head is a tah (its real name is quarter note) and so on. This makes note heads easier to explain later. We start with the representative notation, and I follow along with stick figures on the smart board. Once it is time to introduce the musical notation, I simple fill in a stick figure’s head and draw the note. The “aha” moment they get is pretty fantastic to watch. My district teaches rhythm in a “# of sounds, # of beats” format, so teaching them to count note heads to know the number of sounds is very helpful. I use chair notation to introduce rhythm. I usually bring it back for any new rhythm as well, or whenever students get stumped on a rhythm.

Introducing musical notation

Mini-Notation Sort

When I moved into my current classroom, I found stacks and stacks of empty CD cases. I was tempted to toss them all, but decided to keep them just in case. Boy, am I glad I did! It turns out that when you take a sharpie and add a line down the middle of the case, you get a perfect four-section sorter. (You could do this with the typical square cases as well, just pop out the black cd-holder.)

I printed off a quarter sheet with each of the rhythms as well as their definitions, then printed off mini notation cards. Kids take their cards and sort them into the correct term and definition. This is a great check for understanding if your objective is identification.

Pipe Cleaner Notation

When my art teacher graciously donated a box of short pipe cleaners, I knew I had struck manipulative gold. These things are useful in general, but perhaps my favorite use of them so far is as a way for student to get to know the notation of rhythms. I have students first use a set of mini-notation to set up a rhythm, so there is an exemplar close at hand. Then students use the pipe cleaners to create each rhythm. Kids can get a bit “creative” with them at first, but it’s fun and engaging.

Foam Heart Notation

My first year teaching, I went through the trouble of laminating a ridiculous number of hearts for steady beat and rhythm teaching. It was a pain, and my school is VERY protective of the laminator and encourages us to use it as little as possible (preferably never.) Oh, if only I knew then what I know now! Instead of feeling guilty for a large laminating job and burning through your paper supply, pick up some foam from the dollar store. It works with the die-cut machine, and lasts as long as laminated paper. You can also easily find pre-cut shapes at hobby stores. These hearts were free (yay!) so I use them constantly, but it could easily be a different shape if you wish.

I use the big hearts to represent the beat, and the little hearts to represent the number of sounds. Alternating the colors of the big hearts makes it easy to add in the concept of strong and weak beats later.

Chip and Stick Rhythm

This also uses representative notation, but uses a square for each beat and a chip or stick for each sound. You could use just the bingo chips, but I throw in popsicle sticks as well for the longer rhythms like half and whole notes.

Rhythm Dice

I love these things! They have so many uses. Students could identify the sounds, beats, or sound of note they roll. These dice could also be used to create a rhythm, or inspire a game of notation-search using a piece of sheet music. 

Reasons the Dollar Tree is My Friend (Part 1)

Dollar store loot!

I bet you just hate the dollar store, don’t you?

Nope, me neither.

There is a Dollar Tree right across the street from my school. In fact, it is on my way home. Every day as I drive by it, I have to make a conscious decision NOT to go to the dollar store. Needless to say, I go to the dollar store A LOT. It is a treasure trove for things that I can use in my classroom!



Pool Noodles

Why are pool noodles awesome? Simple: Steady Beat Light Sabers. They are very similar to the steady beat swords featured here. For mine, I decided to go all out and use silver duct tape and electrical tape to make them look like they came from a galaxy far, far away. I use my Light Sabers to teach steady beat to 1^st graders. 3^rd-5^th graders use them as giant batons. Holding something so long in their hands helps them to use their wrists and not conduct like a crazy person.

Foam

The Dollar tree has rolls of foam! Rolls of it! They also have packets of foam. Similar packets or rolls of foam at Wal-Mart cost $5, and who knows what craft stores would charge. Why foam? Why, dear reader, because die-cut machines can cut foam. The foam is more durable than paper, and doesn’t require lamination! I went the paper-laminate-cut route for large quantities of small manipulatives once, and NEVER AGAIN. I learned my lesson! Using foam is so much easier. Students use these shapes to identify the form they hear, or create their own form.

Clinging Shelf Liner

I love this stuff more than I can tell you. A few years ago, my room made me wince with an ugly scarred table, ugly scratched brown file cabinets, and ugly large bright yellow storage boxes. Now those babies are covered, washi taped, and looking good! I used the same kind throughout the room to make it look unified.




Wash-tape

Speaking of washi tape, I found some at the dollar store. This is incredibly exciting to me, since most other places are trying to sell them for $3 a pop. The texture is a bit different, but it still comes off with no residue. Count me in! I’m using washi tape to organize my orffatorium. Each instrument has tape, and the matching mallets have the same kind of tape. Using different colors and patterns also allows me to put kids in groups more interesting than woods and metals.

Stay tuned for another post on awesome things from the dollar store and how I use them!

BONUS: I love these matched cards from the dollar store so much, I wrote an entire post about them.