Can You Feel the Beat?

Lesson Plan • Kindergarten Music

Duration

30 Minutes

Goal

Identify and keep a steady beat.

Concepts

Steady Beat, Rhythm, Movement

Learning Objective

Students will be able to demonstrate a steady beat through movement (marching, tapping) and body percussion while listening to varied musical tracks.

Materials Needed

"Intro to Beat" Slides
"Beat Buddy" Worksheet
Crayons or Markers
Lively Marching Music (e.g., Stars and Stripes Forever)

Instructional Arc

5 MIN

Beat Exploration Warm-up

Have students sit in a circle. Ask them to find their heartbeat or a clock's tick. Model tapping a slow, steady pulse on your knees and have them join in.

5 MIN

Introduce Steady Beat

Use the Intro to Beat Slides. Explain that the beat is the "heartbeat" of music. It stays the same, even if the words or sounds change.

5 MIN

Body Percussion Practice

Practice keeping the beat in different ways: clapping, patting shoulders, and stomping feet. Say "Beat, beat, keep the beat" while moving.

10 MIN

Marching Music Game

Play marching music. Students must march around the room exactly on the beat. When the music stops, they "freeze" like statues.

5 MIN

Rhythm Cool-down

Distribute the Beat Buddy Activity. Students color their buddy and practice tapping the hearts on the page to a slow piece of music.

Differentiation

Support

Hold hands with a student and march together to help them feel the pulse physically.

Challenge

Have students alternate between clapping the beat and patting their knees every 4 beats.

Can You Feel the Beat

Beat Discovery Teacher Guide

Steady Beat Slides

Beat Buddy Activity

Marching Music Game Guide