Clockwise & Counterclockwise

Music Lesson Plan

Title: Sneaky Snake Grade Level: 1st
Source: Professor Michelle McConkey

Materials needed:
Music
Clock

Procedure:

A.S: When you look at the big hand on the clock, which way does it go? Does it
count forward, 1, 2, 3, or does it count backward, 11, 10, 9?

1. Organize the students so that they form a circle.

2. Teach them how the directions clockwise and counterclockwise.
a. Have them look at a clock and ask them which way the big hand, or
the minute hand goes. From 12, does it go forward 1, 2, 3, or does it
go backwards 11, 10, 9?
b. A clock goes forward from 1, 2, 3, and we call that clockwise. If it
goes backwards, that would be counterclockwise.
3. In your circle, walk clockwise and counterclockwise, pretending that you
are the “12” on the clock. This will help students identify which direction is
clockwise and which is not.
4. Now model for the students up and down movements (tip toes and
crouching down), patting your knees twice, clapping your hands twice, and
the scissors with their legs (one leg in front and one leg in back movie back
and forth like a scissor)
a. Have students practice each motion as you say the moves.
5. Now, organize students so that they are in three or four front facing lines.
6. Revisit clockwise and counterclockwise directions by having the students
move in their personal space.
a. Face front, turn to the side for 4 counts, turn to the back for 4 counts,
turn to the other side for 4 counts, and turn to the front for 4 counts.
7. Now that we have all the movements, put it all together and add some
music!

Closure: Review clockwise and counterclockwise directions by asking students

how they differ from each other and which way do they go.
 Educational Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will have learned the
difference between clockwise and counterclockwise, and how to identify those
words.

Social/ Cognitive Physical Musical Non-Musical

Subjects
Emotional
Telling the Patting your National “Core” Music Content
difference knees Standards Standards Standards
between
clockwise and Clapping your Creating
counterclockwise hands 1. Singing Imagine
directions
Plan and Make
Tip toeing up
and crouching Evaluate & Refine
down 2. Play
Instruments Present
Turning in a
clockwise Performing
direction Select
3. Improvising
Walking in a Analyze
clockwise and Interpret
counterclockwise
direction 4. Composing Rehearse,
Evaluate, & Refine

Present
5. Reading &
Notating Responding
Select

Analyze

6. Listening Interpret

Evaluate

7. Evaluating Connecting
Connect #10

Connect #11
8. Integration
(outside arts)

9. History/Culture