Rhythm and Pulse Lesson Plan - Reception Lesson 5

In Reception Lesson 5 of the Rhythm & Pulse series, children are introduced to a variety of musical activities designed to enhance their understanding of rhythm and pulse through engaging circle games. The learning objectives for this lesson include participating in circle games, leading and creating actions, responding to cue words, and singing simple songs from memory. As they engage with the songs, children continue to experience and internalize the pulse and rhythm inherent in the music. Key vocabulary for the session includes "rhythm," "pulse," "count," and "rhyme," which are fundamental concepts in music education.

The lesson plan outlines several main activities, starting with the interactive game 'WE WILL COPY YOU', where children sit in a circle, singing and imitating actions while passing a ball to each other. Another game, 'EARLY IN THE MORNING', features a child acting as a postman, delivering letters in time to the pulse of the music. Children also get the chance to play un-tuned percussion instruments to accompany the rhythm and pulse of the songs. 'THE ECHO MAN' is another circle game that involves singing, changing directions, and clapping rhythm patterns, with the potential for children to lead the clapping sequence. The plenary includes the chant 'TEN FAT SAUSAGES' to reinforce rhythm through knee tapping and hand clapping, and ends with the song 'GOODBYE EVERYONE'. Teacher notes emphasize the importance of listening, responding, and confidence-building through repetitive games and songs that are well-suited to young voices, as well as learning to follow game rules and take turns.