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Activity 1: Musical Instruments Activity (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: Children will create their own homemade musical instruments. Children will choose from an assortment of materials. After creating the instrument, students will have an opportunity to explore the various sounds that can be made with each instrument.
Materials: Various containers (metal, plastic, styrofoam, etc.); Shoeboxes; Cans; String; Ribbon; Beans; Tape; Glue; Paint; Paint brushes; Markers; Rubber bands; Aluminum Foil; Plastic Wrap; Scissors
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Students will need to be given instructions on how to handle and work with the rubber bands in order that no one will be injured.
Standards: MU.A2.1; VA.A.1.1

Activity 2: Musical Moves Activity (back to top)

Age: K-1
Activity: Students will listen to various types of music and express the various sounds they hear through bodily movement. The children can use props to aide in their expression of the music.
Materials: Radio; Various types of music (jazz, classical, reggae, rap, Irish jig, polka, Broadway show tunes, Mexican Hat Dance, etc.); Props (scarves, pieces of material, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: A preparation with this activity is to allow students enough room for various types of movement.
Standards: MU.D.1.1; DA.B.1.1

Activity 3: Musical Painting Activity (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: Children will paint artwork as they listen to different types of music. During the activity, a discussion of how strokes, movement, and design relate with various types of tempo should occur.
Materials: Paper; Paints; Paintbrushes; Smocks; Easels; Radio; Various types of music (jazz, classical, reggae, rap, Irish jig, polka, Broadway show tunes, Mexican Hat Dance, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Teachers will need to prepare an area for a painting activity and make sure that each child has a smock to protect clothing.
Standards: MU.D.1.1; VA.A.1.1

Activity 4: Musical Scribbling Activity (back to top)

Age: Pre-K-K
Activity: Children will make marks or scribbling while listening to music. The students should be encouraged to make markings that show how the music makes them feel.
Materials: Markers; Crayons; Chalk; Paper; Radio; Various types of music (lullabies, classical, rap, jazz, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Not applicable
Standards: MU.D.1.1; VA.A.1.1

Activity 5: The Science of Musical Sounds (back to top)

Age: 1-3
Activity: The teacher will read the story, Music, to the class and note the relationship between sound and how it is produced. Students will experiment how various instruments produce their musical sounds. Students will engage in a discussion on how instruments produce their sounds.
Materials: Music by Ardley; Musical Instruments (bongos, recorders, triangle, guitars, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students will need to be instructed on proper handling techniques of the various instruments.
Standards: MU.A.2.1; MU.B.1.1

Activity 6: Feeling the Music (back to top)

Age: 1-3
Activity: While listening to music, students will identify and write down their feelings. In small groups, the students will discuss how the music made them feel.
Materials: Radio; Music (with lyrics, accompaniment, various styles, etc.); Paper; Pencils
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Teachers should prepare students to discuss their opinions and remind the children of how people will have differing opinions.
Standards: MU.D.1.1; LA.B.2.1

Activity 7: Musical Bells (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: Students will explore and experiment with the bells. The students will compare, contrast, categorize, and sequence the bells. The children can use graph paper to record their findings.
Materials: Bells (resonator bells, tubular bells, hand bells, mushroom bells, jingle bells, etc.); Graph paper; Blank paper; Markers; Crayons; Pencils
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students should be prepared on how to handle the various instruments.
Standards: MU.A.2.1; MU.B.1.1

Activity 8: Recording Studio (back to top)

Age: 1-3
Activity: Children will create and record music using various instruments. After the music is recorded, students will listen to their music and think of ways to expand or change their creation.
Materials: Recording equipment; Radio; Headphones; Blank tapes; Instruments (bells, guitars, bongos, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Children should be taught on how to use the recording equipment.
Standards: MU.A.2.1; MU.B.2.1

Activity 9: Musical Jars (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: While striking jars filled with water, students will experiment with the sounds that can be produced. Students should begin this activity with all of the jars filled with the same amount of water to note similarities. The children can then be encouraged to add water to change the pitch of the sounds.
Materials: Six identical glass jars; Striker or mallet; Water; Water pitcher; Food coloring
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students should be instructed on how to use the striker when hitting the glass jars. Teachers should set up this activity in an area that would not be harmed by water.
Standards: MU.A.3.1; MU.B.1.1

Activity 10: Keyboard/ Xylophone Notation (back to top)

Age: 1-2
Activity: Students will create their own music using the keyboard or xylophone. On a piece of paper, the children will write down the music they create by using stickers, that correspond with the stickers on each of the keys. The students can extend or create new musical notations.
Materials: Keyboard or Xylophone; Stickers; Paper; Pencils
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The teacher will affix stickers of various shapes, colors, and size to each of the keys on the instrument.
Standards: MU.A.2.1; MU.B.2.1

Activity 11: Multicultural Instrument Center (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: Students will explore music using native instruments from various cultures. Students will also be able to look at photos and maps that depict the origin of each instrument. Children should be encouraged to compare and contrast the sounds of the various instruments.
Materials: Instruments from various cultures; Maps; Photos
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students should be shown proper handling techniques for the different instruments.
Standards: MU.A.2.1; MU.E.2.1; MU.C.1.1

Activity 12: Broadway (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: The children will use music in the dramatic play center to perform a play. The students will use the music to tell the story of their drama. Children can be encouraged to use various props.
Materials: Radio; Various songs for the children’s selection; Costumes; Instruments; Props
Preparations/Safety Precautions:The children should be reminded of proper instrument care and handling techniques.
Standards: MU.D.1.1; MU.A.2.1

Activity 13: Guess the Instrument (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: After having explored various instruments, students will play a guessing game to figure out what instrument is being played. One child will play an instrument behind a screen, while another child tries to identify the instrument by its sound.
Materials: Various instruments (bongos, triangle, bells, maracas, etc.); Screen
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children should be reminded of proper instrument care and handling techniques.
Standards: MU.A.2.; MU.D.1.1

Activity 14: Cross-Cultural Dance (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity:Students will listen to a variety of cross-cultural dance music. Students will note the variations in sounds and mood of the music. Children can participate in creating their own dance to the music.
Materials: Radio; Cultural music (Chinese Lion Dances, Mexican folk dances, Balkan step dances, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Not applicable
Standards: MU.C.1.; DA.A.1.1

Activity 15: Music and Literature (back to top)

Age: K-2
Activity: Children will choose a favorite story and create music to accompany the book. The children should be encouraged to creatively make the music correspond with the book.
Materials: Recording equipment; Blank tapes; Storybooks; Musical instruments
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Children should be reminded on how to use the recording equipment.
Standards: MU.B.1.1; MU.B.2.1