Words break into beats. Say butterfly slowly: but-ter-fly. Three beats.
Beat One part of a word. You can clap one for each.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
Clap as you say it
One clap per beat. But — ter — fly. Three claps, three beats.
Your chin counts for you
Put your hand flat under your chin. Say the word. Your chin drops once for every beat.
Beats are not letters
This is the one to hold on to. Butterfly has nine letters and three beats. They are different things.
And not length either
Straight has eight letters. Say it. One beat. A long-looking word can be one clap.
Try it on names
Sam is one. Ana is two. Alexander is four. Everybody in a room has a different number.
Why we count beats
Later, a long word is read one beat at a time. Breaking it up is how you get through it.
Step 2: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Clapping Butterfly
Sam counts the beats in butterfly.
- Step 1
He says it slowly. But — ter — fly.
A Long Word With One Beat
Ana tries the word straight.
- Step 1
It has eight letters and looks long.
Beats in Names
A class counts the beats in their names.
- Step 1
Sam. One clap.
Step 3: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Elephant
Problem 1 of 2
How many beats in elephant?
Long But Short
Problem 2 of 2
Straight has eight letters. How many beats?
Count the Beats
1 of 4
How many beats in cat?
2 of 4
How many beats in rabbit?
3 of 4
Do more letters always mean more beats?
4 of 4
What helps you feel the beats?
Step 4: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 1
How many beats in your own name if it is Ana?
What You Learned
- Words break into beats you can clap.
- One clap for each beat.
- Beats are not letters — butterfly has nine letters and three beats.
- A long-looking word can have only one beat.