Drums!
The month of November is international drum month so our focus this week was beating on our handmade drums! The drums were a big hit as we explored the different ways to make noises with them. We discovered that you can set them on the floor and use chop sticks to beat it, as well as holding it with one hand and beating with the other, as well as placing it on the floor and using both hands. We also found out that you could gently tug on the balloon and it would make a loud "boing!" noise.
Our handmade drums were very easy to make and could easily be made at home to encourage more musical exploration! I used a small toddler sized cup, a balloon, and some painters tape. After cutting the tip off of the balloon, I stretched it over the mouth of the cup until it was snug and taught to create a good drum head. In order to assure that it stays on I lined the edge with the painters tape, as well as encouraging our kiddos not to pull too hard or to pick at the tape.
Going into the next few months I would love to incorporate songs or musical activities into our classes that your children already enjoy at home with mom and dad. So if you'd like to stop by and chat with me at pick up or even just send a quick note in email I would love to hear from you! Every week I see more involvement and participation from new friends and it warms my heart. I tried to pick some songs we are all familiar with as well as songs I've brought to our classes before to encourage more singing and song recognition (which I think is working!), so feel free to ask your kiddos about some of their favorite songs we sing. This week especially some of our kids enjoyed Yankee Doodle because they said it was very silly, and as three's friend Miss Kate said "hehe...doodle".
Songs from this week included...
Row Row Row Your Boat
Baby Beluga
Twinkle Twinkle
If I Had a Drum
Yankee Doodle
Boom Boom (Ain't it Great to be Crazy)
The Farmer's in the Dell
Do Your Ears Hang Low
This Little Light of Mine
I've Been Workin'
ABC's
Baby Shark
(LOTS of our songs can be found on Pinterest, Spotify, Youtube, etc. Please sing them with your kiddos at home!)
Infants
Twos
Threes
Fours
