Music Emergency Sub Plan for 4th Grade

Objective

Students will develop a basic understanding of music theory by identifying musical notes and rhythms, and they will create their own rhythm pattern or draw a simple music staff with notes.

Materials/Resources

• Rhythm Clapping Cards (Printable cards with different rhythms)
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard and Markers/Chalk
• Blank Staff Paper (Printable music staff paper)
• Pencils and Erasers
• Music Listening Selection (A short piece of classical music or children's song)
• Timer (Optional, to keep track of time during activities)

Lesson Plan Procedure

Opening/Lesson Hook (10 minutes)

• Warm-Up Activity: Clapping Rhythms

  • Begin the class by explaining that students will be exploring music today.
  • Use the Rhythm Clapping Cards to demonstrate different rhythms (e.g., quarter notes and eighth notes).
  • Have students clap along with the rhythms shown on the cards.
  • After a few rounds, encourage students to create their own simple rhythm patterns to share with the class.

Guided Practice (15 minutes)

• Introduction to Music Theory

  • Write basic musical notes (quarter note, half note, whole note) and their values on the board.
  • Explain the concept of a staff and its lines and spaces, using visual aids if available.
  • Show how to identify notes (C, D, E, F, G) on the staff.
  • Play a short piece of music, and ask students to listen for the different rhythms and notes they learned about.

Independent Practice (20 minutes)

• Activity 1: Create Your Own Rhythm Pattern

  • Students will use blank staff paper to draw a simple music staff.
  • Instruct them to create and write a rhythm pattern using at least two different types of notes.

• Activity 2: Differentiate by Level

  • Below Grade Level: Provide students with a template of a staff and pre-drawn notes. They will simply color the notes and practice saying their names.
  • At Grade Level: Students will create their own rhythm pattern as described above.
  • Above Grade Level: Students can be challenged to create a short melody (3-4 notes) on the staff and write out the rhythm beneath it.

Closing (5 minutes)

• Have a few students share their creations with the class.
• Reflect on what they learned about rhythm and music notes.

Extension Activities or Sample Questions

• Formative Assessment:

  • Ask students to identify the notes on the staff as you point them out.
  • Create a simple quiz where students match notes to their corresponding values.

• Summative Assessment:

  • At the end of the lesson, have students present their rhythm patterns and explain the notes used in their creation.

Reflection

• After the lesson, review how engaged students were with the rhythm clapping and note identification.
• Consider if students were able to successfully create their own rhythm and what adjustments may be needed for future lessons on music theory.

This emergency sub plan provides an engaging and educational experience for 4th-grade students, encouraging them to explore music in a hands-on way while ensuring a smooth class flow for the substitute teacher.