Rhythm Four Corners is a great game to pull out when your students need to move. It’s a simple rhythm review game that students love and that you can play with any rhythm level!
Two Ways to Play Rhythm 4 Corners
Multiple Choice Version
This is the most common way to play Four Corners in any subject. Clap a rhythm and display 4 rhythms labeled A-D on the slide or board. Each corner has a matching letter.
You Will Need:
- Large letters A, B, C, and D to hang in the four corners of your room
- A list of 4-beat (or whatever length you wish) rhythms to clap for the game
- A number of different slides (alternatively, you could draw them on the board, but that takes more time) with 4 rhythm options labeled A, B, C, and D for students to choose from
How Much Movement Can Your Students Handle?
- You may have all students start in the center of the room and move to their chosen corner after you clap each rhythm.
- For less chaos, you may assign students to a corner and have them stand up or sit down if they think their rhythm was clapped.
How to Play:
- Post the letter posters in each corner.
- Explain the rules to your students.
- Display the four rhythm options (A-D) to your students and clap one of them.
- As per your choice above, students should move to the corner they think has the correct rhythm, OR stand or sit if they think their assigned corner has the correct rhythm.
I prefer not to have students “out” in this game and instead have everyone keep playing without a winner. But if you wish to have a winner, you could eliminate everyone who chose incorrectly and continue from there.
Rhythms to Words Version
I love this version of rhythm Four Corners, because it adds a fun twist to the game. By using different words, you can create fun themes for the game that keep students even more engaged. I also like the opportunity for students to notice the rhythm of speech, which connects to things like poetry as well.
You Will Need:
- 4 large rhythm posters to hang in the four corners of your room (for example: corner 1 – ta, rest; corner 2 – ta ta; corner 3 – ti-ti, ta; corner 4 – ti-ti, ti-ti)
- A list of words that match each rhythm (for example, “cat” matches a quarter note, while “elephant” would match ti-ti, ta)
How Much Would You Like Your Students to Move?
- You can have everyone start in the center of the room and move to a corner after you say each word.
- For a calmer option, you could assign students to a corner and have them stand up or sit down if they think their rhythm is correct.
How to Play:
- Post the rhythm posters in each corner.
- Explain the rules to your students.
- Say the first word rhythmically. If your students need more help, you can clap the rhythm as you say the word.
- As per your choice above, students should move to the corner they think has the correct rhythm, OR stand or sit if they think their assigned corner has the correct rhythm.
I prefer not to eliminate students in order to have a winner in this game. But if you wish to, anyone who chose incorrectly would be out, and the remaining students would continue playing until one person remains.
You can easily create your own music Four Corners game using these rules, but if you’d like a ready-to-go, done-for-you version, you can find them in my shop here.
