Contributed by Julia Sirna-Frest

Description

Students will explore their own percussive rhythms using symbols.

Directions

• Gather students, and as a group, create symbols and denote the sounds they represent. For example, a star symbol means clap, a triangle means tap your toes, a diamond means knock on your desk, and a squiggly line means snap.
• Draw all the symbols, mix them up, and place them in a basket. Have each student select a symbol to create a whole song. They can play as many rounds as they want.
• Next, students can create their own full songs and display them for the class. Everyone can follow along, clapping, tapping, and snapping new rhythms!

Transition into Activity

“We all have our own unique rhythms, and today we are going to explore them.” You can give students a note card to draw their symbol on and then as a group decide what sound the symbol will correspond to.

Transition out of Activity

Pack up the symbol sounds in a special box to be used in the future.

Classroom Arrangement

Desks could be helpful for more percussive sounds. This could also be done in a circle at rug spots.

Supports/Adaptive Materials/Tools

Students can create the symbols themselves, or you can create them.

Possible Roles for Classroom Professionals

• Active participation.
• Create symbols, too!
• Write their own songs and share!

Adjustments for Remote Instruction

You can create the symbols and the students can help generate the sounds. Then you can hold up the symbols in the order that the students create.