Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Beat Bingo: Free Printable Game for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Beat Bingo is a free printable music game for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children listen to a beat pattern, copy it with claps, taps and stamps, then tick it off. It is screen free, needs no equipment, and suits one to four players. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, cut out the cards, and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a bingo game built on sound. Cards show short beat patterns made from clap, tap and stamp, such as a clap followed by a stamp. Players pick a card, say the pattern, then copy it with their hands and feet. When they have copied it well, they tick it off. The patterns start short and get a little longer.
- Clap clap
- Tap tap tap
- Stamp stamp
- Clap stamp
- Tap clap tap
- Stamp stamp clap
- Clap clap stamp
- Tap tap clap
- Clap tap stamp
Why beats matter in Reception
A beat is the steady pulse in music. You can feel it when you nod along to a song. Rhythm is the pattern of sounds that sits on top of the beat. Young children often show they can feel a beat before they can explain it, so clapping, tapping and stamping are a natural place to start.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children learn through play, movement and talk. Copying a pattern asks them to listen closely, remember what they heard and then act on it with their bodies. Doing this with friends or family also builds turn taking and shared attention, which are useful in every area of learning.
Fun music facts for children
- A beat is the steady pulse in music, a bit like a heartbeat.
- Clapping and stamping are ways to make music with only your body.
- Drums, shakers and tambourines are called percussion instruments.
- Rhythm is a pattern of sounds, some short and some long.
- Musicians in a group listen to each other so they can keep the same beat.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening
- Rhythm
- Copying
- Keeping a steady beat
- Taking turns
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Expressive Arts and Design | Being Imaginative and Expressive | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can listen carefully to a beat.
- I can copy a short beat with clapping or tapping.
- I can keep a steady beat with my friends.
How to help your child join in
- Say it firstRead the pattern aloud in a clear voice before your child tries it. Hearing the words helps them plan the sounds.
- Use the whole bodyClap with hands, tap on knees or the table, and stamp with feet. Different sounds make each pattern easier to tell apart.
- Go slowlyKeep a calm, even speed. A steady slow beat is easier to copy than a fast one.
- Copy me, then youDo the pattern together first. Then let your child try it alone while you listen.
Key words
- BeatThe steady pulse in music, like a heartbeat.
- PatternSounds that repeat or follow an order.
- ClapHit your hands together to make a sound.
- TapA light, quick touch that makes a small sound.
- StampPut your foot down firmly to make a sound.
- CopyDo the same thing that you just heard or saw.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Cut out the cards and read the rules aloud together, so everyone plays the same game.
- Pick one card at a time. Say the pattern, then copy it with claps, taps and stamps.
- Tick off each pattern that is copied well. Check against the notes and answers on page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one beat at a time, then two. Say the word aloud as you make the sound, such as clap, then stamp. Copy the pattern together first and let your child try it alone afterwards. Keep the pace slow and steady.
To stretch confident children
Make up a new beat pattern for others to copy. Choose clap, tap and stamp in any order, then perform it. Ask players to say it back in words. Add a longer pattern once the shorter ones feel easy.
Make it a game
Put on a favourite song and clap the beat together. Stop the music and play a card pattern, then start the song again. Take turns to be the leader who chooses the next card.
Talk about it
- What did you hear in that beat?
- How did you work out how to copy it?
- Which sound was your favourite, clap, tap or stamp?
- Can you make up a beat for me to copy?
- Is the beat fast or slow today? How can you tell?
- What happens to the music when we do not keep the beat together?
Take it off the page
Name rhythm
Clap the sounds in each family member's name. Say the name and clap it at the same time, then let them copy you.
Soft and loud march
March around a room. Stamp on the beat, then switch to quiet tapping on your knees and back again.
Tapping box
Tap a pattern on a cardboard box or a cushion. Ask someone to listen with their eyes closed and copy what they heard.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go, then let them lead. Read each pattern aloud and join in with the sounds. Praise careful listening as well as getting the pattern right. Stop while it is still fun.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, table activity or supply resource. It needs only printing and cutting. Small groups of up to four work well. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it once and use it again for brothers and sisters. It fits easily into a wider music plan alongside songs, rhymes and outdoor play. Ask children to make up their own patterns to build on the sheet.
Where this fits in music learning
Before this game, children listen to sounds around them, join in with songs and rhymes, and move to music. They begin to feel a steady beat by clapping or marching along.
After this, children copy longer patterns and play them on simple instruments. Later, often from Year 1, they learn that rhythms can be written down with symbols.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you hear in that beat?
- How did you work out how to copy it?
- Can you make up a beat for me to copy?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Beat Bingo for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children may enjoy it with a lot of help. Older children can try longer patterns they make up themselves.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening to and copying simple beat patterns. They use claps, taps and stamps, keep a steady beat and take turns. It supports Being Imaginative and Expressive within Expressive Arts and Design.
- How many people can play?
One to four players can play. A child can also play alone with a grown up. Cut out the cards, pick one at a time, and copy the pattern together before ticking it off.
- What if it feels too hard?
Slow down and do one beat at a time, then two. Say the word aloud as you make each sound. Copy together first, then let your child try alone. Short, calm rounds work best.
- Do I need any equipment?
No. You only need the printed sheet, scissors for the cards and a pencil to tick. The sounds come from hands, knees and feet. A grown up can cut out the cards beforehand if you prefer.
- Is it free, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. You do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so it is easy to print again.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider music plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.