Fourth graders can create homemade wooden harmonicas that make noise when they blow into them. According to Disney's Family Fun website, to make the harmonica, stack two depressors together and cut out two strips of paper in the same length and width as the depressors. To measure the paper accurately, wrap the paper around the depressors and cover the loop with clear tape. Remove the sliders and separate the depressors. Then, wrap the sliders around just one of the depressors, with the other depressor stacked on top. Hold everything in place with a rubber band that you fit around the structure of the harmonica. As the kids move around the sliders and blow into the harmonica, the vibrations against the wooden depressors make noise. Have your fourth graders decorate their wooden harmonicas, but not with paint, as the paint can come off on their mouths as they blow into their instruments. Instead, have kids decorate with stickers.
Fourth graders can have a banging good time with homemade bongos that they craft out of large, empty coffee or oatmeal cans. Using construction paper, students can decorate the paper and glue it around the can to make it look like a drum. Then, they can turn the can upside down so that the bottom faces up, and the top end does not contain a lid. Students can glue ends of a piece of rope onto the two sides of the can to make a loop that wraps around a fourth grader's neck so he can walk around with his bongo drum.
Chimes make a delicate, high-pitched sound and sometimes are used to accompany musical instruments. To make chimes at home, head to a home improvement or craft store to purchase copper pipes and a special craft glue that is meant for heavy projects. Fourth graders glue medium-sized string to one end of the copper pipes using the strong craft glue and hang the ends of the string around a long ruler, stick or hanger. Cut the strings at various lengths so that they dangle at different levels. Students then use one metal chopstick to strike the "chimes."
Fourth graders can use Tupperware, birdseed and a piece of fabric to make their own version of handheld gourd shekeres, which are musical instruments native to the Native American culture. They fill the Tupperware with birdseed and secure the lid tightly. Then they tape the lid down using duct tape for extra protection. Next the students wrap the Tupperware in fabric as if you are wrapping a present. Cut out the amount of fabric that you need to cover the entire container and then apply fabric glue on top of the Tupperware so that when you lie the fabric down over the Tupperware it holds together. The fabric is used to decorate the outside of the container so that you cannot see the Tupperware, but only hear the rattling sound that the instrument makes. In Native American culture, the drums and gourds were decorated with fabrics and beads for embellishment, which is what the fabric accomplishes. Now the rattle is ready to shake. Advise your students to hold it in their hand and shake it around. The birdseed inside the plastic container will imitate the sound of the gourd shekere.