Materials
apple
piece of writing paper
wooden classroom chair
pencil
blank "thank-you" cards or blank pieces of paper cut to 5" by 7"
pencils, colored pencils, crayons,and markers
Instructions
* Ahead of time, send home a letter inviting the children's families to begincollecting coffee cans and oatmeal containers for the activity.* Cut construction paper to fit the cans and containers, wrap it around thecontainers, and secure it with tape.What to Do1. Talk with the children about reusing things instead of throwing them away.2. Display a coffee can or oatmeal container. Ask the children to think ofsomething they could reuse the container for. Allow time for the children toshare their responses.3. Explain that the children will make their own drums using similar containers.4. Display pages from the suggested books to demonstrate ways to createinstruments from common household items.5. Provide each child with a paper-wrapped "drum" and art supplies.6. Invite the children to use the art supplies to decorate their drums. When thechildren finish creating their drums, gather them together.7. Invite the children to keep the beat as you play various rhythms on your drumand they follow along.8. Play a favorite class song and ask the children to sing along and play their drums.9. Remind the children while they enjoy their drums to think about how theyhelped care for the Earth by reusing something that might have beenthrown away.AssessmentConsider the following:* How well do the children decorate their drums?* How well do the children play their drums while singing a favorite song?
