ALEX Learning Activity

Students will explore and compose various rhythm patterns using playdough. They will shape the playdough into music notes and arrange them into four-beat patterns.  Students will read their favorite pattern to the class.  

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit. 

The student will use notation to create a four-beat rhythm pattern. 

1.  Watch the Quaver clip of Cooking with Rhythms.

2.  Distribute playdough to students. 

3.  Practice making music notes with playdough. Review how many beats each note receives. 

• The teacher may limit the notes to quarter and paired eighth notes to make it easier.
• The teacher may allow the students to use all the notes that have been previously learned in class - quarter, paired eighth, half notes and quarter rests. 

4.  Create various four-beat patterns using the playdough. 

5.  Students choose their favorite pattern to share with the class. 

6.  Collect playdough. 

The teacher will use informal observation to determine if the student made a four-beat pattern and read it correctly to the class. 

1.  Students will need prior knowledge of music notes and the number of beats each receives.  

2.  Collect enough playdough for each student to make at least four music notes.  

3.  This will get messy. Having a mat to keep the playdough on will help. I use laminated sheets of paper. The playdough will come off the mat easier than the floor and doesn't get as dirty.  

This lesson can be used with the activities Rhythm Composition in Rondo Form and Creating Rondo Form.