STEADY BEAT - RHYTHM SEED PACKS

This week, I'm reflecting back on a wonderful session I saw at a national Orff conference.  With apologies to the young lady that presented (since I don't remember her name) -- I give credit to her for sharing the book Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert as it inspired my activity.

I recently found that with the new spring, lots of local shops have flower seed packets available for very affordable prices.  I purchased several different flower seed packets -- each seed packet having a different rhythmic value.  For example, rose = quarter note, iris = eighth notes, etc.

After removing the seeds, some of which I planted, I laminated the packets with the rhythmic values printed and affixed to the back of the packet before laminating.  After reading the story, ask children to create a "garden of rhythmic flowers" to be spoken and/or performed in a B section of a piece like "Chain, Chain, Daisy Chain" or "All Around the Buttercups."

Extension:  Add different flower seed packets with more difficult rhythmic names to increase difficulty levels.

Assessment:  Have children create rhythmic flower lines and write the rhythmic notation without turning the packets over.  Once complete, turn the "sentences" over to self-assess work.