Thats how I learned. When I was in 6th grade my music teacher tought me how to read music, she would have the class look at some sheet music and clap out the beats(while saying 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and). It helped alot. Then eventually we played full songs................. on the xylophone

Claping the beats out is a good way to learn them. Just like guitar demon said, a whole note gets four beats so you would clap it out like this

--1------and------2------and------3------and------4------and
-clap---------------------------------------------------------

And half note would be claped like this

--1------and------2------and------3------and------4------and
-clap-----------------------------clap------------------------

And a quarter note....

--1------and------2------and------3------and------4------and
-clap------------clap-------------clap-------------clap--------

A eighth note.....

--1------and------2------and------3------and------4------and
-clap----clap-----clap----clap----clap-----clap----clap----clap

You get the picture. Use the same method for the other notes and rests(just don't actually clap on the rest)
I figured this would help out if you are having a hard time with the beats/notes

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