Shapely compositions

Students will compose four measures of music using shapes to denote the quarter and eighth notes. The individual compositions are combined to make a longer piece of music that students enjoy playing on rhythm instruments.

A lesson plan for grade 1 Music Education

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Related topics

• Learn more about arts, composing, instruments, music, percussion, and rhythm.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• compose and notate simple rhythms using shapes.
• successfully play the rhythms individually and in groups.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

80 minutes

Materials/resources

• 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper
• Crayons
• Variety of rhythm instruments
• selected recordings
• completed 4 measure rhythm composition

Pre-activities

Students should have had practice playing quarter note and eighth note steady beats to selected recordings of different tempos. Students should be familiar with the vocabulary of beats, steady beat, composer, quarter notes, eighth notes.

Activities

Lesson One

1. Teacher engages students in a short discussion/review of what a composer does. Show students examples of music. After the review, explain to students that they will be composers today.
2. Tell students that we will be composing with shapes. Let students suggest a few shapes that could be used. Teacher should draw each shape on the board with a different color marker. (If you do not have a dry erase board, use large poster board so that the shapes can be done in different colors.) From these shapes, pick four to be used in compositions. Erase the ones not chosen.
3. The teacher should then choose one of the selected shapes and draw four of them on the board, using the same color originally used. Draw a box around the four shapes. Explain that one shape equals one beat, so we will clap one time for each shape. Practice clapping the four beats.
4. Next, draw a connecting box beside the first one. Choose another of the selected shapes and draw four of these in the new box. Teacher leads the practice for clapping the eight shapes/beats.
5. Continue by adding another box. Choose another shape and this time draw eight small shapes, connecting each two with a line. These represent our eighth notes. Teacher explains that students clap for each of the small shapes.
6. Lead students through a clapping practice of these three measures, being careful to observe how well students make the transition from quarter note shapes to eighth note shapes. (The teacher may add additional measures for practice as needed.)
7. Next, give each student a sheet of paper and crayons. (The teacher should complete the activity along with the students, so that they will have a visual step by step the first time. You may also choose to have one or more finished papers to show before they start drawing.) Lead them through folding the paper so that it is divided into 4 boxes/measures. Unfold the papers, and have students write their name in the top right hand corner. (Make sure students all turn papers in the same direction.)
8. For this step, each student must make two choices: what shape to use in the first “measure,” and whether they will be large shapes or two small connected shapes. Students then draw their shapes, coloring them in with the same color as the corresponding shape on the board.
9. Students continue making selections for the three other “measures.” Draw and color the shapes. After the fourth “measure” is completed, take up the papers.
10. Combine a few students’ work on the board (magnet, tape, etc.) and practice with clapping, or patting on legs.
11. Get ready to play the composition as a class. Pass out 4 kinds or rhythm instruments - one to each child if possible. Assign one of the four shapes to each instrument group. (Ex. Triangles play on the red squares, hand drums play on the blue triangles, etc.)
12. Play the composition to a selected recording. If time allows, combine other papers for a new composition and play.

Lesson Two

1. Combine a few papers on the board. Have students review by clapping the rhythm composition.
2. Divide students into groups of four. Give each group two papers, stapled or taped together.
3. Let the students decide which shape they will play on. (No duplicates - only one person may be the square, etc.)
4. Students practice their rhythm compositions with claps/pats, as teacher circulates and listens to each group.
5. Next, let each group practice with instruments. Instruments may be given to one or two groups at the time, then passed on to other groups. Or you may choose to let each group practice with instruments at the same time.
6. Finally, give each group a chance to perform their rhythm composition for the class.
7. At the end of class, return each child’s work. Put up instruments.

Assessment

Teacher will:

• check each child’s rhythm composition for correct notation.
• listen to each child play his/her rhythm part during the small group practices.
• observe students as a group during the playing of rhythm compositions.