Musical Game Time

Lesson 4: Ready, Set, Music!

Duration

30 MIN

Objective

Students will be able to participate in and follow the rules of structured musical games, reinforcing rhythm, turn-taking, and auditory memory.

Materials Needed

Slides: Game Time!
Soft ball or beanbag (Hot Potato)
Hand drum or percussion
Rhythm flashcards (Ta, Ti-Ti)

Key Concepts

Rules

Following directions in play.

Turn-taking

Waiting for our special time.

Auditory Memory

Remembering rhythms by ear.

Instructional Arc

5 MIN

Rhythm Echo Warm-up

"I clap, you clap back!" Lead a series of simple 4-beat rhythms (Ta, Ta, Ti-Ti, Ta). Use silly body percussion like patting knees or tapping shoulders to keep it engaging.

5 MIN

Introduce Musical Games

Show slides for the two games. Discuss: "How does music make a game more fun?" and "What happens if we don't listen to the beat?" Model the turn-taking rules.

10 MIN

"Duck, Duck, Goose" with Rhythms

Sit in a circle. The tagger taps heads to the beat: "Ta, Ta, Ta, Ti-Ti!" On the "Ti-Ti," the person tagged must chase the tagger back to their spot.

7 MIN

"Hot Potato" with a Beat

Pass a beanbag to a steady drum beat. When the drum stops, the person with the "potato" has to perform a 4-beat rhythm solo for the group to echo.

3 MIN

Game Strategy Discussion

"Who was listening really closely?" and "How did you know when it was your turn?" Celebrate the winners and the good listeners alike.

Fairness First

In Kindergarten, being "out" can be hard. Instead of being "out," have the person move to the "Maestro's Circle" in the center to help play the drum or lead the next rhythm.

Listening Cues

Vary the tempo of the drum during Hot Potato. Faster beats mean faster passing! It builds great internal pulse awareness.

Musical Game Time

Musical Game Lesson Plan

Game Time Slides