Young students make and decorate bean-filled coffee can shaker instruments here

Title – Listen To My Music!
By – Dr. Kathleen Wild
Primary Subject – Music
Secondary Subjects – Art, Math
Grade Level – K-2

Materials needed:

• One coffee can with a plastic lid
• Construction paper
• Stickers of any kind
• Scotch tape
• Dry beans of any kind (peas, navy beans, etc.)
• Two different colors of streamers or you could use different colored ribbon
• Newspaper
• Measuring cup

Directions:

1. Wipe out the coffee can make sure it is clean inside.
2. Let it dry for 5 minutes.
3. Now, have the student measure about 3/4 to 2 C. of dry beans and pour them into the can.
4. Place the lid on the can after filling with beans.
5. Using the scotch tape, tape the lid with it all around the can so that the beans will not fall out when student is shaking it.
6. Measure the can and cut the colored construction paper to fit around the can.
7. Tape the paper onto the can below the lid.
8. Now, using the stickers, let the student decorate the can placing stickers onto the construction paper.
9. Measure and cut 4 to 6 strips of ribbon or paper streamers about 12″ long each.
10. Next, the student can tape the streamers onto the shaker can.
11. Now that your project is complete, let each student have a turn shaking to a song or a rhythm that they like.
12. After each student has had a turn, let all of the students perform together as a group.
13. You could even have a parade outside of the school or at a Parent’s Night.
14. If you want to teach counting, tell students to shake their shakers 5 times, or six times.

Note:

This is a very nice and relaxing way to start a day with music. Best of all, they made their own instruments !

E-Mail Dr. Kathleen Wild !