Ocean Rhythms

A Music and Math Lesson Idea for all Grades Overview Participants will apply the names of ocean creatures to musical rhythms in box notation. Standards Music—reading notation, creating Math—patterns, fractions and percents Science—habitats Process ·         Drill the students on the following rhythm counting system. The rhythms should be spoken evenly so that they divide the beat accordingly:       Place the symbols in a 4 by 4 grid and say them. Keep the beat—one beat per box. ·         Start with simple rhythms and work up to the more difficult ones. ·         Eventually leave out the sound on “m”. ·         Clap the rhythm (each syllable) while saying the names. ·         Clap the rhythm (each syllable) while thinking the names (for “m” hands go out to sides). ·         Replace the clapping with other body percussion or instruments. ·         Perform the grid backwards, down each column, or in a round. ·         Have one group repeat a row over and over and then add other groups on other rows. ·         Figure fractions and percentages (How many barracudas are there?). ·         Expand in to much larger grids. ·         Divide into groups and create grooves using the grids. Use the grooves to accompany spoken patterns such as times tables or songs-that-teach. Change the rhythm names to reflect other habitats.