Playing rhythm patterns to a steady pulse
I can play a rhythm with a steady pulse.
Playing rhythm patterns to a steady pulse
I can play a rhythm with a steady pulse.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- We warm up before singing so that our bodies, minds and voices are ready to sing.
- We can can hear, feel and perform the rhythm and the beat in our songs and chants.
- We can identify known rhythm patterns in our chants.
- We can use pictures and words to help us play rhythm compositions accurately, keeping a steady pulse as we play.
Keywords
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Echo - an exact copy of a musical phrase
Composition - a new piece of music that has been created
Common misconception
Pulse, beat and rhythm are the same thing.
Beat is the playing of the steady pulse. Rhythm is the pattern of sounds and silences of differing durations.
To help you plan your year 1 music lesson on: Playing rhythm patterns to a steady pulse, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 music lesson on: Playing rhythm patterns to a steady pulse, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 music lessons from the Compose and Create: exploring and performing rhythm patterns unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Class set of percussion instruments that are easy to play rhythm patterns clearly on e.g. claves / woodblocks. Minibeast compositions from lesson 5.
Licence
Starter quiz
4 Questions

the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock
the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
the way an instrument sounds that helps us identify it
Exit quiz
4 Questions
to create a piece of music
a person who creates a piece of music
a new piece of music that has been created