Fascinating Rhythm
15 Activities
Overview
The JALC-AC’s second module, Module 2: Fascinating Rhythm encourages students to explore the rhythms, or patterns of their lives. Students learn how to represent rhythmic patterns through symbols – both random and those used by musicians and musical educators – arranging and rearranging the symbols to create sound and movement.
Continue Your Journey
1
1
Acoustic Experiment
Students learn the basic components of acoustics. They use this knowledge to build a model performance space.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
2
2
Build Like a Musician
Students learn the basic elements of rhythm. They arrange and rearrange the basic elements to explore various ways to create movement in music. Students will also layer basic patterns to create complex rhythms, mimicking the sounds of jazz.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
3
3
Catch that Firefly
Students identify the 3/2 Clave Rhythm through a story. They then apply their own rhythm to an everyday act, such as washing dishes or doing laundry.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
4
4
Strut Like an Animal
This activity introduces the concept of musical notation through animal footprints. Using cut-out animal footprints, students practice walking through musical bars to replicate how musicians play through them.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
5
5
A Musical Comic Book
Students create a comic story using a Comic Book Key Code. They develop an understanding of pattern and symbols, which are two key elements of writing jazz music.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
6
6
Dance the 8 Count Lindy
Students learn four Lindy Hop movements through a dance instruction video. They then modernize the dance, merging old and new.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
7
7
Break the Box
Students learn basic stick notation and how to organize the notation into bars. They layer created patterns to alter the depth and complexity of the sound.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
8
8
The Swings
Students read a comic about the Swings, grandparents who are planning a family party. Students read and act out the comic story to understand the feel of swing and its offspring.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
9
9
Twirl in the Wind
Students build a Kinetic Sculpture, or a sculpture that moves in response to air, light, or sound.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
10
10
In the Groove
Students design obstacle courses as if they are jazz musicians playing in the groove. They must complete the course together while taking time to perform an improvisational solo.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
11
11
Dance the Shim Sham
Students learn four basic Shim Sham movements. The combination is repeated over and over, mimicking patterns found in the dance's companion song. Students then modernize the dance, applying their own unique twists.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
12
12
Traveling from Brazil
Students learn the story behind Bossa Nova through a comic story. They then work with a partner to combine their two favorite songs into a new sound.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
13
13
Rhythm and Language
Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
14
14
Weather Patterns
Students learn how sound differs in various areas of the world and how climate and weather have impacted the development of those sounds.
Grades 3 - 8
3 Hours
15
15
Dribble and Dazzle
Students use found objects, such as basketballs, to create fun, rhythmic performance pieces.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
Fascinating Rhythm
Overview
Continue Your Journey
1
1
Acoustic Experiment
Students learn the basic components of acoustics. They use this knowledge to build a model performance space.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
2
2
Build Like a Musician
Students learn the basic elements of rhythm. They arrange and rearrange the basic elements to explore various ways to create movement in music. Students will also layer basic patterns to create complex rhythms, mimicking the sounds of jazz.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
3
3
Catch that Firefly
Students identify the 3/2 Clave Rhythm through a story. They then apply their own rhythm to an everyday act, such as washing dishes or doing laundry.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
4
4
Strut Like an Animal
This activity introduces the concept of musical notation through animal footprints. Using cut-out animal footprints, students practice walking through musical bars to replicate how musicians play through them.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
5
5
A Musical Comic Book
Students create a comic story using a Comic Book Key Code. They develop an understanding of pattern and symbols, which are two key elements of writing jazz music.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
6
6
Dance the 8 Count Lindy
Students learn four Lindy Hop movements through a dance instruction video. They then modernize the dance, merging old and new.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
7
7
Break the Box
Students learn basic stick notation and how to organize the notation into bars. They layer created patterns to alter the depth and complexity of the sound.
Grades 3 - 8
2 Hours
8
8
The Swings
Students read a comic about the Swings, grandparents who are planning a family party. Students read and act out the comic story to understand the feel of swing and its offspring.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
9
9
Twirl in the Wind
Students build a Kinetic Sculpture, or a sculpture that moves in response to air, light, or sound.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
10
10
In the Groove
Students design obstacle courses as if they are jazz musicians playing in the groove. They must complete the course together while taking time to perform an improvisational solo.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
11
11
Dance the Shim Sham
Students learn four basic Shim Sham movements. The combination is repeated over and over, mimicking patterns found in the dance's companion song. Students then modernize the dance, applying their own unique twists.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
12
12
Traveling from Brazil
Students learn the story behind Bossa Nova through a comic story. They then work with a partner to combine their two favorite songs into a new sound.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
13
13
Rhythm and Language
Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
14
14
Weather Patterns
Students learn how sound differs in various areas of the world and how climate and weather have impacted the development of those sounds.
Grades 3 - 8
3 Hours
15
15
Dribble and Dazzle
Students use found objects, such as basketballs, to create fun, rhythmic performance pieces.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.