Music theory worksheet · Note values
How Many Beats?
Write how many beats each note gets when a quarter note gets one beat.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Note values
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Naming whole, half, quarter and eighth notes, Knowing how many beats each note gets, Adding note values, Seeing how notes divide in half
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- A dot after a note adds half of the note’s beats. A half note gets 2 beats, so a dotted half note gets 2 + 1 = 3 beats.
- How many beats? Write the number in the box.
Teacher tip
Keep four counters on each desk. Kids lay down one counter for every beat a note gets, so they can see that a whole note uses all four.
How to use it
- Point out the three clues: is the head filled in, is there a stem, is there a flag or a beam?
- Keep a note value chart on the wall while kids work.
- Read the reminder box at the top of the sheet together, then do the first item as a class.
Watch for
Thinking a bigger-looking note is always longer. The whole note has no stem at all.
Talk about it
- How many quarter notes fit inside a whole note?
- Where have you seen or heard this in a song we know?
Take it further
Have kids write a note addition problem for a partner.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More note values worksheets
Grades 2–3
The Note Value Tree
Each row of the tree lasts four beats. Count the notes in every row, then finish the sentences.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.