Musical Shakers

Making your own music shaker is a very simple way to allow children to make some noise, literally.  While making your own shakers, you can decide what you want to put inside of them.  You can place certain items inside to make softer noises, and you can also place harder items to make louder noises.  Musical shakers can easily be produced using miscellaneous items that you find around the house.

Through shakers, children learn and develop:

• Cause and effect
• The different between soft/loud noises
• Fast vs. slow
•  Rhythm

To make your own shakers, you will need:

• Empty plastic containers such as crystal light, yogurt, baby food, plastic easter eggs, butter tubs
• Items to place inside – straws, cotton balls, seeds, old buttons, old beads, rice, pebbles, unpopped popcorn
• Glue – preferably a glue gun or super glue

First, place items into your container of choice.  Next, place glue on the lip and place the lid on snuggly.  Allow to dry for a few minutes.  Once dried, you have a musical shaker!

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to use as musical shakers?  Or what have you used that might work better?

Musical Streamers

Using streamers during your music time can help children open up and complete various movements while listening to different genres of music.  Producing your own streamers is much cheaper compared to actually purchasing them from school stores or catalogs.  Plus they are actually fairly easy to make with just some simple items that you find around the house.

Through streamers, children learn about and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Space – their own and the area around them
• Rhythm
• Spatial directions
• Fast vs. slow
• Positive self-esteem

To make your own streamer, you will need:

• Plastic rings from canned pop
• Ribbons

OR

• Shower curtain rings
• Plastic ribbon tape found in a hardware store/fabric strips

First, cut each plastic ring apart to make several pieces.  Next place the ribbon onto different parts of the plastic ring tying it securely each time.  You can put as many ribbon strands on it as you want.  Once all the ribbons are secure on your ring, you have a completed streamer of your own.

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to do with streamers?  Include your music ideas, as well as your movement ideas!

Sponge Balls

 

Sponge balls are a a great alternative to actual balls when it comes to safety.  They are very soft and versatile and can be used for numerous activities other then just using it as a ball.  Developmentally, it helps children build upon some if their skills:

• Large motor - throwing, kicking, catching
• Fine motor - grasping, picking up
• Language - discussing the textures of the ball, the colors, what you can do with it

To make one sponge ball, these are the items that you are going to need:

• 3 sponges - foam sponges work better, but you can use cellulose.  Also, different colors of sponges help to make the ball more vibrant!
• Cable ties - preferably 12 inches long
• Scissors

First, cut each sponge into three long strips and gather into a pile.  Next, when the sponges are in a pile, place the cable tie around the center and begin to pull it tightly.  Before it is as tight as it will go, move the sponges around to make it look more full.  Finally, tighten the cable tie as tight as you can, cut of the excess cable tie, and then tuck one part of the sponge over it to cover the part that was cut off for SAFETY!!  Ta-da, you have a versatile, soft sponge ball!

Other activities that you can complete with this ball include:

• Water play
• Painting
• Can toss

Do you have any other activity ideas?  Please share your thoughts and pictures with us!