1. Subjects >
  2. Music >
  3. Key stage 1 >
  4. Year 1 >
  5. Keeping the pulse (Theme: My favourite things) >
  6. Lesson 4: Reading sound patterns

Learning objective

  • To play short rhythms in time with the pulse.

Success criteria

  • I can read and interpret simple sound patterns.
  • I
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National curriculum

Music

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Use
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Cross-curricular links

English

Spoken language

Pupils should

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Seat children in a circle and play the link: Happy by Pharrell Williams on VideoLink. Play the audio only. Ask the children to identify and march along to the pulse. Model moving to the pulse and encourage children who require support to copy so the whole class feels the pulse together. Allow the children to…

Learning objective

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support:

  • Could be given simpler rhythms to copy.

Pupils working at greater depth:

  • Should experiment with more complicated rhythms.
  • Should lead the rhythmic copyback activity.
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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding can:

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Vocabulary definitions

  • Vocabulary for this lesson has already been covered in Lessons 1-3.

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In this unit

Assessment - Music Y1: Keeping the pulse

Lesson 1: Finding the pulse

Lesson 2: Singing a sound pattern

Lesson 3: Using a thinking voice

Lesson 4: Reading sound patterns

Lesson 5: Practice makes perfect

Created by:

Created by:

Kapow Primary team
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Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjects
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Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 16th March, 2026

Contributors

Contributing author:

Elizabeth Stafford

Music specialist

Image Specialists 12
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Lesson 3: Using a thinking voice Previous Lesson
Lesson 5: Practice makes perfect Next Lesson

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