#  >> K-12 >> Elementary School

How to Make Musical Instruments in an Elementary School

Making musical instruments is an engaging way to introduce music to young students. Many musical instruments for elementary students are easily made out of recycled materials, such as facial tissue boxes and coffee cans. Making a classroom set of musical instruments allows all students to play during class or while teaching students about music. Introducing musical instruments, even homemade musical instruments, can lead to a life-long passion for music.

Things You'll Need

  • Face tissue box
  • Rubber bands
  • Tape
  • Empty paper towel roll
  • Paper plates
  • Beans
  • Stapler
  • Streamers
Show More

Instructions

  1. Guitar

    • 1

      Have students color a face tissue box. There is no right or wrong way to color the box.

    • 2

      Remove any plastic attached to the opening in the center of the box. Wrap three to five rubber bands around the face tissue box.

    • 3

      Apply tape to both small ends of the face tissue box over the rubber bands. This will keep the rubber bands in place while students are playing "guitar."

    • 4

      Glue an empty paper towel roll to one end of the tissue box. The paper towel roll becomes the neck of the guitar for the students.

    Tambourine

    • 5

      Allow students to decorate the bottom of two paper plates. This will become the outside of the tambourine.

    • 6

      Place a handful of beans on one of each students plates. Have the students put the other paper plate on top to create a pocket between the two plates.

    • 7

      Staple around the edges of the two paper plates. Make sure the staples are close enough that beans cannot fall out of the tambourine.

    • 8

      Pass out strips of streamers and glue. Allow students to glue streamers onto the edges of the tambourine and let the glue dry.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved