Lesson Plan: Horses

Our Horses Lesson Plan is the next in our series and we have lots of horsey fun in store with this very popular theme. If you’re looking for more themes check out the rest of the plans here.

This lesson works well for any age from 1 – 5 years. Younger ones particularly enjoy the movement and knee bobbing, just omit the rhythm game and they might need a bit more help (with holding the coconuts etc.) Older children will find it easier to grasp the rhythm work and they’ll really love the imaginative movement and exploring  the different tempos.

This is a particularly lively lesson which always goes down well with anyone under 5 years! Its main focus is understanding and recognising contrasting tempos which is illustrated by the rhythm of horses hooves, walking, trotting and galloping.

This lesson plan focuses on:

• Recognising the steady beat and singing together.
• Recognising contrasting tempos.
• Tapping rhythms.
• Listening skills.
• Practicing minims, crotchets and quavers (half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes)
• Imaginative movement.
• Experimenting with a variety of percussion instruments.

This music lesson plan is 10 pages long, including 5 printables which have been made with quavers, minims and crotchets for a European version, and with eighth notes, quarter notes and half notes for a US version to avoid any confusion. These plans are not intended to read as a script, as everyone will have their own teaching style. More, I hope that they will provide you with in-depth guidance for a number of related activities that I have found in my years of teaching to be particularly effective and engaging combinations. To buy and download the horses lesson plan, use the buttons below.

Here’s what people are saying about the Lesson Plan series!

“I downloaded the clocks and mice lesson plan and LOVED it. I’d like to start a music program in my classroom based on your lessons. I’d love to buy 30-40 lessons from you to fill up an entire school year if I could!”

“I am starting my first preschool music class next week and I need your website! :)”

“Thanks so much for all your hard work on this website and in putting together such great activities and lessons. I have been following the first piano lessons and easy pieces for the last couple of months with my six and four year old. I learnt oboe for seven years and my piano is pretty basic but these lessons have been so easy and fun to follow…and teach!”