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Want to practice or assess rhythm reading, but don’t want it to be boring? Secret Code Detective is the best way to have students practice reading rhythms while assessing their reading abilities AND making it into a game.
Because look– we need to know what they know, but we also need to keep music class interesting. So when we can assess and play a game at the same time, I’m here for it.
If you’re looking for more ways to assess students without assessing them, you’ll want to check out this blog post.
How to Play Secret Code Detective
To play Secret Code Detective as a rhythm game or rhythm assessment, you’ll need to get some cards. Specifically cards with a bunch of rhythms on them. All of the students will need the same cards (so everyone needs a ta ta titi ta and a titi ta titi ta).
I suggest making these cards small so that students can easily hold them without everyone seeing them.
You can make these rhythm card sets yourself, or you can print my ready to go sets from TPT and make it easy on yourself. There are rhythm sets for everything from just quarter and eighth notes to half notes to triplets to syncopa, so no matter what you’re learning, you’ll find a Rhythm Detective set that works for you (or save money with the bundle!).
Here’s how to play Rhythm Detective:
- Give all students a copy of each of the rhythms. I like to put mine in ziplock bags (envelopes work too!)
- Read a rhythm.
- Have students hold up the card with the matching rhythm.
- Notate which students are able to correctly identify the rhythm.
This is a simple but fun activity, and you can use it as an assessment. Win-win.
Tips for Secret Code Detective Rhythm Game
This one does require some organization, so here’s a few tips to help:
Be sneaky
First off, you want to make sure students aren’t copying each other. I tell them to secretly show me their cards, and they come up with interesting ways to keep it sneaky.
Keep Your Secret Code Detective Rhythm Cards Organized
I like to keep myself organized by doing a few things to my cards:
Color coordinating:
I know you may not have colored ink, but if you do, you’ll want to color coordinate the rhythms so that all of the ta ta titi ta’s are blue and the titi ta titi ta are pink (for example). This way, when students hold up titi ta titi ta, you can just see the color and know they have the correct answer.
My sets have colors and icons, so even if you print in black and white, you see the folder with the “top secret” file, or the footsteps, and know it is the correct one.
Numbering sets:
To help make sure that everyone has all the cards, I number all the sets. In the bottom of the cards, I write “half note, set 1”, or “half note, set 2”. This is another reason why you may want print the cards, because writing all of that is a lot.
It pays dividends in keeping organized, though, because if you find a random card underneath a bookcase, you can see which set it goes with.
Have an extra set
I always create an extra baggie of rhythms, and I write on the bag “extra”. When someone finds a random card, I put them in there. If someone is missing a card, I pull one out. Inevitably, one card will get lost, and this helps with that problem.
Taking Secret Code Detective rhythm Game Up a Notch
Want to make it harder, different, or just take longer? Here’s some things I’ve done for differentiation in the elementary music room with the rhythm assessment secret code detective– or just some thing to extend the activity.
Add more measures
Instead of reading just one card, you can read more than one. Make it 8 beats or 16 beats by adding cards together for an extra challenge.
My sets include some “boards” with the correct amount of spaces for that students can put the correct amount of cards on them .
Use a partner
Instead of the teacher calling the rhythms, the students can team up in partners or small groups to play this rhythm game. One student calls the Rhythm Detective cards, and the others find them. This could make it a great centers activity!
Looking for more info on centers? Check out all my (many) posts about centers here.
Make is a Rhythm Composition!
After you’ve finished the rhythm assessment, have students compose with their cards! Use the rhythm cards to make a longer rhythm. Students can read and clap them, or they can play them on instruments.
Write it down
Finally, you can have students write down their answers. This is great if you want to have something to turn in, to send home, or hang in the hallway. Have students write their answers on recording sheets provided in the packs on TPT, or have students write them on a piece of paper.
Not a fan of paper? Use white boards to have students practice writing the rhythms without the hassle of having to copy paper!
Ready to get started with Secret code Detective? Click here to check purchase or see what rhythms are available!
Want more rhythm games? This post includes my all time favorite rhythm games.
And here’s a link to a post about Kaboom! – the best rhythm game EVER.
Happy teaching!
Becca
