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Basic 3 · Physical Education · Dynamics

Moving to Even and Uneven Beats

In this topic you will compare movements done to even beats and uneven beats.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain even and uneven beats
  • Move to even beats
  • Move to uneven beats

What you already know

  • Different ways of moving (Basic 1–2)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Movement Concepts
Sub-strand
Dynamics
Indicator
B3.2.2.2.2 – Compare and contrast locomotor movements conducted to even and uneven beats

Introduction

Listen to a drum: boom, boom, boom, boom. The beats are evenly spaced. Now: ba-BOOM, ba-BOOM. That rhythm is uneven.

1. Even and Uneven Beats

Beats and movements
BeatSounds likeMovements
even1, 2, 3, 4 (same gap)walk, run, hop, jump, march
unevenlong-short, long-shortskip, gallop, slide
Two rows of beat marks, evenly spaced and uneven, with matching movements
Figure 1: Even and uneven beats Draw the two beat patterns.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Comparing

  • Even beats give steady movements.
  • Uneven beats give bouncy, long-short movements.
  • Both can be fast or slow.

New words

beat
A steady pulse in music.
even
Equally spaced.
uneven
Not equally spaced.
gallop
A long-short step like a horse.

Summary

  • Even beats are equally spaced; uneven beats are long-short.
  • Walk, run, hop and march to even beats.
  • Skip, gallop and slide to uneven beats.

Class activity: Drum Moves

  1. Listen to the drum.
  2. Even beats: march or jog.
  3. Uneven beats: gallop or skip.
  4. Change when the beat changes.

You need: Plastic-bottle cones, Rope, Sticks of chalk

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which movement fits an even beat?

    • A. March
    • B. Gallop
    • C. Skip
    • D. Slide
    Show answer
    Answer: MarchMarching is steady.

  2. 2. Which movement fits an uneven beat?

    • A. Gallop
    • B. Walk
    • C. March
    • D. Run
    Show answer
    Answer: GallopGalloping is long-short.

  3. 3. Skipping goes with an uneven beat.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueSkipping is long-short.

  4. 4. Uneven beats can never be fast.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseBoth can be fast or slow.

  5. 5. Not equally spaced means ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: unevenThat is uneven.

  6. 6. Name two movements for even beats and two for uneven beats.

    Show answer
    Answer: Even: walk, run, hop, march; uneven: skip, gallop, slide.They match the beats.

Homework

  1. Clap an even beat and an uneven beat for your family.