Submitted by Dianne Park, San Diego, California

Idea posted August 26, 2003

I have never been asked to show lesson plans or have a requirement about them, but I was asked to keep a sub folder available for emergencies. I put together a folder with a map of school/playground, etc., and basic knowledge a sub would need: where to pick up the kids, when to do recess duty or morning duty, who went to lunch when, et cetera. Then I left a BOX of things to do (I think I got this idea off of the MusicK8.com Mailing List). I left videos, sing-along ideas, sheets and a tape for patriotic sing-along, sheets and a tape for a Disney sing-along, several play-along ideas (a book and tape for early primary and one for late) to be used for play-along rhythm instruments, game ideas, and then my most recent lessons and theme. I also had Save The Music books for every grade and figured that if a sub felt comfortable with one of those lessons, he/she could delve into them. I left a lesson plan for how to use these ideas and kept the box in easy reach and the sub folder with the plans in my desk drawer. That way, if I got ill or had an unexpected absence, the emergency sub had a plan. My box of goodies was very successful, and I had other teachers ask me to share it with them!

Here's the plan I actually wrote. I put some explanations in parentheses.

MUSIC EMERGENCY SUB PLANS K-5
Title: Rockin' Rhythms
Objectives: Students will identify & perform rhythm patterns in a variety of ways.
National Standard 5: Reading and notating rhythms.
Materials: The items below are located in a special box marked EMERGENCY SUB PLANS kept on top of the yellow book cabinet next to the video/VCR in the music room.
1. Rhythm cards to clap or play (Cheryl Lavender flash cards)
2. Big Rhythm squares (suitable for grades K-5 - homemade but from an idea by Randy & Jeff)
3. Rhythm strips and cards (suitable for grades 3-5 - homemade but from an idea by Randy & Jeff)
4. Rhythm Bingo Game (Cheryl Lavender)
5. Book & accompaniment tape: Rock, Rhythm, And Rap
6. Book & accompaniment tape: Strike Up The Rhythm Band by Jill Gallina
7. Tape: "Come Play The Stick Game" (from the CD, "Rhythm Stick Activities" by Buzz Glass)
8. Videos: (K-2) Behind The Scenes With Max Roach, (3-5) Stomp Out Loud!
Plans:
1. For grades K-2, use rhythm cards one through ten and ask the students to clap and identify the rhythm syllables (ta, ti or quarter rest)
2. For grades 3-5, use rhythm cards one through 20, and ask them to clap and identify the rhythm syllables (ta, ti, ta-a, ta-a-a, and various rests)
3. Put down big rhythm squares. Each big dot stands for a quarter note. Empty spots are rests. Show children how to read and clap each line of one square. (Homemade squares 4 X 4 grid, that can be read from any direction.)

- Grades K-2: Pair children up and ask them to clap all the rhythms line by line, reading from top to bottom. Then, rotate to another side and read and clap the rhythms again, top to bottom. Continue all the way around the square. When they are done, they should sit down. When all are done, each group should share one side of their big square with others.

- Grades 3-5: Instead of pairing children, put FOUR to a square. All kids read and clap all rhythms, reading down line by line from every side. Then, each of the four takes a DIFFERENT side, and ALL read and clap AT THE SAME TIME, creating layered rhythm patterns. Then, all four shift and move around their squares. Each time they clap a different rhythm pattern.

- When all are done, each group should share their layered rhythm patterns with the rest of the class

- Extension: Ask each student to get one rhythm band instrument from the shelf and use it to tap, scrape, or shake the patterns.

4. Show appropriate age group video which introduces rhythms in a variety of ways.

- Grades K-2 video: Penn & Teller. Shows how rhythms are found in our daily lives - in marching bands, in jump roping, and so on. Children love this video, but I would NOT show it in its entirety. Too long. They will get antsy. Stop and play another rhythm game if this is the case.

- Grades 3-5 video: Stomp Out Loud. This video shows how rhythms can be made with "found sounds." Watch several "acts" - rhythms performed on found sounds high above New York City, rhythms with push brooms, with basketballs, in a kitchen, in a sewer, and more. Students are totally fascinated with this video! Again, if kids get antsy, turn off and play another game.

Other rhythm activities:
1. All grades: Play Rhythm Bingo. Pass out cards and dry erase markers and lap cardboards. Play for fun, not prizes. Grades K-2 should play Side A (quarter, eighth, and quarter rests). Grades 3-5 may play side B, but go over the note lengths first.

- To play: I call the rhythm and we clap it together. I write it on the white board while they search for it on their board.

- BINGO is any five across, down, or diagonally - like regular BINGO.

2. Grades 3-5: Use rhythm strips and rhythm cards. Students get in pairs and create an eight-beat rhythm with the cards. They get one rhythm band instrument each and play their pattern for the class. (Rhythm strips are strips of black paper that have room for eight beats worth of cards. Cards have a variety of notes and rests on them. Children lay out eight beats worth on their strips.)
3. Grades K-2: Rhythm Sticks - each child gets a pair of rhythm sticks (on shelf in tub). Use tapes "Come Play The Stick Game" and "Strike Up The Rhythm Band" and do echo rhythms to the tape directions.
4. Grades 3-5: Use DRUM STICKS - located on bottom instrument shelf, behind curtain. Tap echo rhythms to "Rock, Rhythm, And Rap."