Whole Rest or Half Rest?

Grade level

Grades 2–3

Time

About 10 minutes

Topic

Rests

Answer key

Yes, page 2 of the PDF

Kids practice

Naming whole, half, quarter and eighth rests, Matching each rest to the note of the same length, Counting beats of silence, Telling the whole rest from the half rest

What kids do

Printed on the sheet:

1. Write W for a whole rest or H for a half rest.
2. Finish each sentence with a number.
3. 1. A whole rest gets
4. 2. A half rest gets
5. 3. Two half rests last as long as beats of silence.

Teacher tip

Use this line: the whole rest is heavier because it holds four beats, so it hangs below the line. The half rest is lighter, so it sits on top.

How to use it

• Clap notes and open your hands, palms up, for rests.
• Pair every rest with its note twin on the board.
• End by clapping, singing or playing something from the sheet, so the page turns back into music.

Watch for

Rushing through rests. Whisper “sh” on every silent beat to keep the time.

Talk about it

• Which rest is as long as a half note?
• Where have you seen or heard this in a song we know?

Take it further

Have kids add one rest to a rhythm they already know and clap the new version.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.