Chubbie Cubbie's Musical Activities

Activity name:
Large Maracas

Materials needed:
Clean, empty 20oz plastic beverage bottle w/ label removed
Dried beans, rice, or corn kernels (or combination)
Acrylic paint (any color or combination of colors)

Preparation:
Pour some paint into the bottle (if using more than one color, use one color at a time).  Tilt, shake, swirl until the inside of the container is coated.  Dry upside down over newspapers or paper towels.

Carrying out the activity:
Have the children put about a handful of beans, corn, rice, or combination into the bottle.  Replace cap making sure it is tight (you may glue it shut if desired).  Demonstrate to the children how to shake their maraca.

Activity name:
Mini Maracas

Materials needed:
Empty 35mil film container
Dried beans, rice, or corn kernels (or combination)
Strong tape

Preparation:
None

Carrying out the activity:
Have the children put about a spoonful of beans, corn, rice, or combination into the bottle.  Replace cap making sure it is tight and then tape it closed.  Demonstrate to the children how to shake their mini maraca.

Activity name:
Wave Drum

Materials needed:
Clean aluminum pie plate (one for each child)
Small beads
Construction paper
Masking or similar tape
Crayons, markers, and/or stickers
Scissors

Preparation:
Turn the pie plate over and place onto the construction paper.  Trace the pie plate.  Cut out the circle.  You'll need one for each child

Carrying out the activity:
Have the children decorate their circle.  When done, place about a 1/2 to 3/4 cup of beads into the pie plate.  Cover with the construction paper circle and tape all the way around making sure there are no holes or gaps.  To use the drum, slowly tilt the drum from side to side and up and down.  It will make a sound similar to the ocean.