Beat and Rhythm

Grinding Corn This is a Native American Indian, of the Navajo tribe. She is grinding corn into cornmeal, or flour. She will bake bread or tortilla (a small cake). Many people sing as they work; singing helped the women grind corn with a steady beat and a good grinding motion. Let’s try it.

Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians Let’s read this book about how Native Americans plant and raise corn.

Corn Grinding Song Grinding corn, grinding corn, Here we are, grinding corn. Grains of red and yel - low, Blue and white corn I am grind-ing.

Corn Grinding Song Clap the pattern of the words to the song. Grind-ing corn, grind-ing corn, Here we are, grind-ing corn. Grains of red and yel-low, Blue and white corn I am grind-ing. Is the pattern of the words the same as the steady beat?

Rhythm The pattern of the words is different than the steady beat. The term musicians use to describe the pattern of the words is rhythm. Play the song again in two groups, one on rhythm and beat.

Corn Grinding Song This version of the Corn Grinding Song is performed by Native Americans from the Navajo nation, the largest tribe of Native Americans in the United States.

Get on Board! Get on board, little children, Get on board, little children; There’s room for many a more. The gospel train’s a-comin’, I hear it close at hand; I hear the carwheels rumblin’ And rollin’ through the land. Get on board, little children, Get on board, little children; There’s room for many a more.