Submitted by Sue Pastorek, Aurora, Illinois

Idea posted May 3, 2002

I like to use as many learning styles as possible to make sure that everyone grasps the concepts.

When teaching beginning rhythms to Grade 1, we clap and play ta, titi, and rest. Then, we use charts to read just the stems and eventually turn them into notes.

For our kinesthetic learners, we use Hula Hoops! I borrow four hoops from our PE teacher and place them on the floor in the front of the room. I choose one child to stand in each hoop. We clap ta, ta, ta, ta. Then I select a second student to stand in one of the hoops. I ask the kids,"What do we have now?" They of course know that this is a titi! To create the beam, the kids like to stand with their arms on their buddies shoulders, or let them think of a way to show that the two notes are attached. We add kids and remove them (for rests) to make a variety of patterns. Sometimes one student gets to be the teacher and creates the patterns for the class to clap.

Great fun and good learning for everyone!