Creative Ideas Needed?

Question

Im doing a 3 week long lesson based on Music with my three year old class. I have many ideas already, but I always like to have more than enough just in case some aren't well liked by the children. Any creative ideas for activities dealing with music? (Any thing that would enhance the learning of colors, shapes, numbers, and/or letters would be great) Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Download some samples of Tahitian Drums for the children to listen to.  It's different than anything else they might have heard.  Tell them how Tahitian drums were used as means of communication and celebration. (Read up on Tahitian drum music.)

Cut different lengths of 4 inch diameter PVC pipe (to acheive different "notes".  Obtain several lengths of 3/4" wood dowels from any crafts store.  Cut them with a hacksaw to 10" lengths.  Also purchase some wooden craft "balls" that have been predrilled to fit the 3/4" wood dowels.  These wooden balls come in bags of 6 or 8.  Glue these to the ends of the wood dowels. (One per 10" dowel) with yellow carpenters glue.

Get yourself a "grass" skirt and have "island music day".  Pass out the dowels and the sections of PVC pipe...say 2 section of different lengths for each child.  Also pass out the wood dowels and instruct them that they are not to be used on each other.  Play the Tahitian drum music for them and then let them cut loose for a short while.  Then, come up with a simple composition of beats they can all learn. When you've lost their interest on this, teach them a simple "hawaiian hula dance". Also be sure to give each child a "flower lei" to wear before your musical activity begins.

After this, serve ice cold island punch and cookies.

At the end of the day, when you've been partially deafened by the beating of the PVC pipes....go home and tip back a bottle of Jack Daniels.