Body Rhythm Patterns
This activity is good for children 3 to 7, and for children 3 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Sing the song and figure out a pattern of body movements to go with the steady beat of the song. Group the movements into either four or three, according to the time signature of the song. For younger children an example of a four beat pattern would be patsching four times on your lap, clapping four times, stomping with your feet four times, and swishing the palms of your hands back and forth four times. (A patsch is tapping the palms of your hands to your thighs.) Repeat this all through the song. For a three beat pattern, just do three of each of these actions.
For older children, an example of a four beat pattern would be patsch, patsch, clap, clap, stomp, stomp, snap, snap. Repeat this all through the song. An example of a three beat pattern would be patsch, clap, clap, snap, clap, clap.
Activity
For younger children, ask the children to follow your hands. Do the rhythm pattern. Start singing the song as you do the pattern.
For older children, say, "Here is the pattern." Demonstrate the pattern and have them follow you. Complete the pattern once all the way through, then continue to do the pattern as you sing the song.
Extender Activity for Older Children
At the end of the song, ask for one of the children to come up and be your partner. Ask the other children to watch the new pattern. Demonstrate a Partner Body Rhythm Pattern a couple of times. Ask the children to find a partner. Lead them in doing the new partner pattern a couple of times, then begin to sing the song as they do the pattern with their partner. (See Partner Body Rhythm Patterns in this Appendix for ideas.)
Benefits of this Activity
Excellent practice for steady beat (See Chapter Ten for the benefits of steady beat). Good for children who learn through the People Sense, Kinesthetic, Logic, and Music Intelligences (See Chapter Five). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One).
This activity is good for children 3 to 7, and for children 3 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Sing the song and figure out a pattern of body movements to go with the steady beat of the song. Group the movements into either four or three, according to the time signature of the song. For younger children an example of a four beat pattern would be patsching four times on your lap, clapping four times, stomping with your feet four times, and swishing the palms of your hands back and forth four times. (A patsch is tapping the palms of your hands to your thighs.) Repeat this all through the song. For a three beat pattern, just do three of each of these actions.
For older children, an example of a four beat pattern would be patsch, patsch, clap, clap, stomp, stomp, snap, snap. Repeat this all through the song. An example of a three beat pattern would be patsch, clap, clap, snap, clap, clap.
Activity
For younger children, ask the children to follow your hands. Do the rhythm pattern. Start singing the song as you do the pattern.
For older children, say, "Here is the pattern." Demonstrate the pattern and have them follow you. Complete the pattern once all the way through, then continue to do the pattern as you sing the song.
Extender Activity for Older Children
At the end of the song, ask for one of the children to come up and be your partner. Ask the other children to watch the new pattern. Demonstrate a Partner Body Rhythm Pattern a couple of times. Ask the children to find a partner. Lead them in doing the new partner pattern a couple of times, then begin to sing the song as they do the pattern with their partner. (See Partner Body Rhythm Patterns in this Appendix for ideas.)
Benefits of this Activity
Excellent practice for steady beat (See Chapter Ten for the benefits of steady beat). Good for children who learn through the People Sense, Kinesthetic, Logic, and Music Intelligences (See Chapter Five). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One).