lesson
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Put your hand on your chest. You can feel a steady thump-thump-thump, like a little drum.
A steady, repeating tap like that is called a beat.
📊Interactive diagram
What happens when we say words along with that steady beat?
Words Have a Beat
When words bounce and flow with a steady beat, they make a rhythm.
Listen to how each clap matches the words in this chant: Rain, rain, go a-way!
📊Interactive diagram
Some words take one long beat, while other words share a beat with quick little steps. Try clapping your hands once for every beat as you say your name out loud!
Key takeaways
- Rhythm is the musical pattern of sounds, beats, and silences created by the flow of spoken words in poems, chants, and songs.
- Words are made up of chunks called syllables; rhythm is formed by the pattern of strong (stressed/heavy) and weak (unstressed/light) beats across those syllables.
- A steady beat acts like an underlying heartbeat or ticking clock, while the rhythm of the words moves and dances over that steady beat.