It’s Valentine’s Week, and if you’re looking for a last-minute quick and easy activity for young students, here is a Valentine’s Day game you still have time to print and use today! There is not much planning, the rules are simple, and all you need is a few minutes to cut out the cards . This activity is a re-post from January in case you are a new reader, or didn’t see it the first time I posted it, and I’m posting it here today as a reminder. Also some teachers wanted to see a photo of the folded cards. If you are a parent, this a fun game to play with your children to introduce rhythm names.
The printable cards look like this:
Click on the link under the picture above. That will take you to my website where you can download the free printable. Print the pages on sturdy card stock and cut them out. Do not laminate the cards. Fold in the middle so the heart is on one side and the notes on the other. (Cardstock is easier to fold if you score it lightly using a ruler and a dull point, such as a dull butter knife. Leave a comment if you need more directions.) After folding, the cards sit up like a tent. Hide them around the room with the Valentine heart facing out. Do not hide too well, or students will not find them and next Christmas you will still be finding Valentine cards in little hidey-holes in your studio!
Directions
Tell your student that you have hidden little Valentine “cards” all over the room. The cards have different rhythm values on the back. The student’s job is to find and collect the ones with half notes (or whatever note you want to work on) as fast as possible. Depending on how much time you have, you can play again, collecting different rhythms.
This is also an excellent activity to introduce a new rhythm to beginning students.
Objective
- To quickly learn to recognize rhythm note names
- To learn that stems can go up or down
- To introduce rhythm names to beginners
- To play a fast (under 3 minutes) Valentine’s Day game
Ages
- Early childhood to grade 2 or 3
This is a variation of a game idea from Cecilly called Quarter Note Hunt, and it has been a long time favorite in my studio.
I get to try this on Friday with my little kids. So far this week there has been a big success with the “Write a Valentine’s song” composing sheet. I love these things and love the songs the kids write. Wish you could hear them sing and play and see the ingenious ways they came up with to write the notes.
yours, Megan Hughes
I really would love to hear them! Is there any way you could make a video?
good idea. Only trouble is I would have to figure out my machine, a task I have been avoiding.
Tried this yesterday, and the kids loved it! After they gathered them up, I had them put them in a line and clap out the rhythm. Such fun!
Thanks for letting me know! What fa fun idea to clap the rhythm!
I love your holiday games. We have played the Quarter Note Hunt game and the children love it. Thanks for sharing. I am going to pin it too!
Tonya
http://www.stringskeysandmelodies.blogspot.com