Join the Band

Join the Band lesson plan

  • 1.

    Making musical instruments is a delightful way to integrate the arts, to learn about the world’s cultures, and to promote thinking and motor skills.

  • 2.

    With children, learn about and experiment with different ways to make sounds: chordophone (tuned strings, such as violin, piano), aerophone (with air, such as clarinets, voice), membranophone (surface such as drum), idiophone (self-vibrating, such as tria

  • 3.

    After children have multiple experiences with making sounds, encourage them to invent their own instruments. Offer a wide variety of safe recycled items.

  • 4.

    Use your imagination to invent a musical instrument, or create a familiar one, such as a rain stick or tambourine. Here’s how to make a drum with an oatmeal box or coffee can.

  • 5.

    Measure construction paper to fit around your drum. If you are 4 or older, cut the paper with Crayola® Scissors. An adult can help if you are younger.

  • 6.

    Lay the paper flat. Design the sides and head (top) of the drum using Crayola® Construction Paper™ Crayons. Make the drum sparkle by adding Crayola® Glitter Glue highlights. Dry overnight.

  • 7.

    Wrap the paper around the drum and seal with Crayola® School Glue. Dry overnight.

  • 8.

    To make drumsticks, decorate two craft sticks or dowel sticks with markers and glitter glue. Dry overnight. Make a ball of Crayola® Model Magic® for the tips of the drumsticks. Push the drum sticks into the compound and glue them together. Dry overnight.

Benefits

  • Asking Questions
  • Listening
  • Vocabulary
  • Physical: Eye - Hand Coordination
  • Physical: Senses
  • Social & Emotional: Making Friends
  • Social & Emotional: Pretend Play
  • Thinking: Creating
  • Thinking: Predicting Outcomes
  • Thinking: Problem Solving
  • Thinking: Understanding Concepts