rhythm is math

Introduction: Clap rhythms and have students echo. Start with groups of three beats, then four, etc. This helps students count, follow verbal directions, and identify patterns.

Song: There's a Beat in My Feet, by Teresa Jennings. (K8 Magazine) Students find a partner (buddy up), get a bouncy ball, and face each other a couple of feet apart. Bounce the ball back and forth (1 throw, the other catch) to each other on the steady beat.

Sing Row, Row, Row your Boat. Divide into 3 groups. Teach actions to the song and sing together, then as a round. Keep the steady beat with a drum or two sticks.
Then teach new words; skip counting to the 3's. 3,6,9 and 12. 15, 18, 21. . ..
24, 27, 30, 33. 36; that's our threes. Using manipulatives, group objects into those numbers; point to them and move them around as you sing.

We can use our flip cam to video things in our room that have those numbers; 3 xylophones, 6 drums, 9 maracas, 12 mallets, etc.

End with clapping partner playground game: Grandma, Grandma, sick in bed. She called the doctor and the doctor said; Let's get the rhythm of the head (ding, dong). Let's get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap). Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp). Let's get the rhythm of the hot dog (swirl middle like a hula hoop).