I have found it handy to make “flash cards”, when teaching children (of all ages) note values. I have

the note values printed on card paper, and then laminate the cards.  The cards I use are about 4″x6″ in size. I also stick a 3/4″ square of velcro (hook side) on the back of the card, so that if I’m using a felt board, I or my students can stick them on the board to create different rhythms. If you use a blackboard or whiteboard, you can stick self adhesive magnets on the backs instead 🙂

These flash cards also come in handy when using songs like, “B-I-N-G-O”, “Snail, snail”, or any other song that has a focus on rhythm. Before the Christmas holidays we used them to sing “S-A-N-T-A”, which is sung to the tune of BINGO, but the lyrics are all about Santa 🙂

To take it one step further, I also use these cards, along with popsicle sticks and black felt circles, to have my students make notes in class. For the younger ones, the notes printed on the flash cards are large enough for them to build their popsicle stick notes right on top of, using them as a guide.  For the older children, I place the flash cards on my felt board, and they can build different rhythms with the popsicles sticks.

I purchased the popsicle sticks at the dollar store, and cut out black felt circles myself.