Who Took The Easter Egg?

This game/song is a fun way to work with rhythms. There are no winners, no losers, and mistakes are a natural part of the action. You can teach it by rote very easily, letting your students become comfortable with the flow of it on their own, and then asking them to notate it. Or, you can notate it for them - on the board, with hand-outs, etc. - before they start to say it and let them examine the rhythms, analyzing them first. Once the game is under way, the idea is to keep the rhythm going no matter what. If someone messes up, loses their place, forgets a name, or whatever, don't let the rhythm stop! Just pick it up at the next natural opportunity and keep going. The best way to play is probably in a circle where everyone can see everyone else. You can have them go from person to person in order, or let them accuse each other randomly, taking care not to accuse anyone more than once. You should probably keep track to help them determine when everyone has had a turn. When they have, the final Accuser should name the first Accuser who then finishes the game with line D. The rhythm stops on beat 1 with "ate it."

As a reference (for yourself or your students), play the version of this game that is on side one of the Performance/Accompaniment Cassette for this issue. The kids really played this game in a recording studio, complete with goofs, and had a great time!