Rhythm and Pulse Lesson Plan - Year 6 Lesson 1

The first lesson in the Year 6 Rhythm & Pulse series sets out to teach students the fundamental skill of maintaining a steady pulse while engaging in various musical games that incorporate chanting and rhythmic actions. The learning objectives are clear: to keep to a steady pulse during chanting games and to pass a tap around a circle while singing, all the while demonstrating an understanding of rests in music. The key vocabulary for this lesson is 'pulse', a term essential to grasping the rhythmic foundation of music. Main activities include rhythm games such as 'Who Has a Brother?', where children respond rhythmically to questions posed by the teacher, and 'Boom Chick-a-Boom', which likely involves a catchy chant to reinforce the concept of pulse.

Another game, 'Concentration', challenges students to perform continuous actions while chanting and calling out names in a sequence, requiring concentration to maintain the rhythm and pulse. 'Knee Clap Click Click' is a similar activity where children practice a sequence of body percussion to establish a regular pulse before introducing a game that involves stating their name and a corresponding place, all in rhythm. 'Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky' is a more complex game that combines singing with coordinated hand tapping passed around a circle, teaching children to synchronize their actions with a steady beat. The plenary session tests the children's ability to maintain a pulse without music and then to realign with the music once it returns. These activities align with the National Curriculum's objectives for singing and exploring duration in music, ensuring that learning is both fun and educational.