Look at a calendar that includes celebrations or world holidays. If one of the holidays is approaching, use it as a way to teach your students about different cultural celebrations. For example, if the month of May has just started, you can learn about Cinco de Mayo, sing traditional songs in Spanish and play instruments like guiros and shakers to a recording of mariachi band music.
Ask your students what parts of the world they come from. Many students may have been born in another country, and others will know where their ancestors are from. You may need to ask students' parents in advance. Listen to folk music from these different cultures and give some simple facts about the music and the country in which it originates. Choose a few songs to teach to your class, and if possible, make a recording or give a concert with the music. Use regionally popular instruments whenever possible to accent your performance.
Help the children make simple instruments like maracas. Decorate a plastic water bottle with tissue paper and glue and let it dry. Have your students help you fill each bottle with dried beans or rice. Cover the bottle with the cap, and your student can have fun shaking their maracas with a variety of world music.
Introduce a variety of world instruments and what countries they come from. For example, djembes are from Africa, rainsticks are used in African and Chilean music, gongs are of Asian origin, and mandolins are popular in American folk music. Choose a variety of instruments, or as many as you can obtain, and teach children how they make their sound, what parts they are made of and how they are played. Listen to recordings of the instrument being played, or you can give a demonstration.