Prep. Lesson 4. Exploring beat
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- Bee puppet Difficulty:
Prior learning: None
- Bee puppet Difficulty:
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Students will learn to recite the rhyme while keeping a steady beat and coordinating movements to match the words.
Lyrics
Bee Bee, BumbleBee, Stung a man upon his knee,
Stung a pig upon his snout, I declare that you are out!
Success Criteria
- I can recite the rhyme from memory while keeping a steady beat.
- I can perform the movements in time with the words and beat.
- Begin by introducing the rhyme to the class.
- Explain to the students that a friendly bee has come to visit.
- Students sit in a circle. Speak the chant with a bee puppet while tapping students’ heads to the beat.
- The student who is tapped on the word “out” leaves the circle
- The game is continued until only one student (it) is left
- The rest of the students rejoin the original circle, and “it” will now take over bee duties
- During the second round of play, drop out of chanting, and the class takes over.
Students will develop moving to the beat and social interaction by participating in a circle game and practising group coordination and timing.
Lyrics
Round and round the garden,
Like a teddy bear,
One step, two steps,
Tickle you under there!
Success Criteria
- I can walk in a circle while saying the rhyme in time with the group.
- I can drop hands and tickle the child in front at the right moment.
- I can change direction and continue the game with a steady beat.
- Ask students to form a large circle and hold hands with the person beside them.
- Explain that they will be walking together in a circle while holding hands, matching their steps to the beat of the rhyme.
- Begin walking together in a circle while reciting the first part of the rhyme: "Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear."
- Make sure the students walk in time with the beat and take steady steps.
- When the rhyme reaches "One step, two steps," have the children drop their hands. Each child should now be standing behind another child in the circle.
- As the group says, "One step, two steps, tickly under there!" everyone should take two steps forward and then gently tickle the child in front of them under their arms. This adds a fun, playful element to the game.
- After the tickling, have the children rejoin hands and walk in the opposite direction, repeating the rhyme and tickling sequence. Encourage them to keep the beat steady and enjoy the interactive play.
Students will learn to perform the rhyme while keeping a steady beat and coordinating hand and arm movements.
Lyrics
Ten Little Soldiers, stand up straight. [Hands facing outwards, fingers together]
Ten Little Soldiers, make a gate. [Hands clasped together, fingers interlocked in an 'X' shape]
Ten Little Soldiers, make a ring. [Hands form a circle]
Ten Little Soldiers bow to the king. [Arms apart, fingers bend 90 degrees and 'bow']
Ten Little Soldiers, run and play. [Fingers and thumbs twiddle up and down]
Ten Little Soldiers, hide away! [Arms behind back, hands are hidden]
- "Ten Little Soldiers" is an excellent fingerplay exercise for enhancing language skills through rhyming and improving dexterity as students develop proficiency in coordinating hand and finger movements.
- Such fingerplay activities also support the development of instrumental techniques for untuned and tuned percussion, the recorder, the ukulele, and other instruments.
- Furthermore, finger dexterity gained through these exercises aids in fine motor control needed for tasks like gripping pencils, using cutlery, and dressing.
Success Criteria
- I can say the rhyme while keeping a steady beat.
- I can perform the actions accurately in time with the rhyme.
Students will develop awareness of the beat and improve their ability to keep the beat while singing.
Success Criteria
- I can sing "Hot Cross Buns" from memory.
- I can tap the beat using different body parts while singing.
- I can keep the beat with a percussive instrument while others sing.
- I can participate with confidence and use my singing voice effectively.
- Repeat the song 5-6 times, changing the body parts to keep the beat (e.g., tapping heads, shoulders, knees, and noses) to add variety and engagement.
- Use a small drum or another percussive instrument to reinforce the beat as the class sings along.
- When secure, pass the drum to a student, allowing them to keep the beat while the class continues singing.
- Repeat with other students as time permits.
- Encourage and praise students for using their singing voices and staying on beat throughout the activity.
Students sing while maintaining a steady beat following a projected beat sheet with eight umbrellas.
- Project the beat sheet with eight umbrellas in a row, explaining that each one represents one beat.
- As you sing the song, point to each umbrella in time with the beat.
- Students should watch, listen and keep the beat on their knees.
Success Criteria
- I can sing in time with the beat.
- I can follow the teacher's pointing to each umbrella to stay on the beat.
- I can maintain a steady beat while watching the projected beat sheet.
Zak and Zoe walk to the beat and then discuss whether apples can fall...
Suggested lessons
Prep. Lesson 5. Singing and speaking voices
Students aurally identify singing and speaking voices through listening and performing. AC9AMUFP01
Prep. Lesson 6. Chants & fingerplays
Students sing songs, chant rhymes, and engage in partner activities and fingerplays. AC9AMUD01
Prep. Lesson 7. Louder & softer sounds
Students keep the beat in their feet, chanting rhymes and learn about loud and soft. AC9AMUD01