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Creating musical Instruments with waste
The topic of creating musical instruments with waste is an engaging and hands-on way to teach students about the importance of recycling and upcycling materials, while also exploring concepts in science, maths, and the arts. By using waste materials to create musical instruments, students can learn to think creatively and resourcefully, and they can develop their problem-solving skills by experimenting with different shapes, sizes, and materials to create different sounds. They can also develop their teamwork and collaboration skills by working together to create a musical ensemble, and they can learn about the history and cultural significance of different types of musical instruments around the world. Overall, the topic of creating musical instruments with waste is an exciting and interactive way to engage students in interdisciplinary learning and to inspire them to think critically and creatively about the world around them.
For the construction of the product/object/artefact, learners can use:
Duration: 1-2 hours
Interaction: Pairs or Teams (3 - 4 people per group)
a. Begin by asking the students if they have ever played a musical instrument before.
b. Introduce the concept of creating musical instruments from waste materials.
c. Show examples of musical instruments made from waste materials and discuss how they were created.
d. Discuss the importance of recycling and reusing waste materials.
a. Have the learners brainstorm different types of waste materials that can be used to create musical instruments.
b. Write down their ideas on the board or chart paper.
a. Have the students choose a waste material and think about what kind of musical instrument they can make from it. Suggestions
b. Provide the necessary materials and let the students create their musical instruments.
c. Encourage the students to be creative and use their imaginations.
d. Assist the students as needed.
a. Have the students test and play their musical instruments.
b. Encourage them to experiment with different sounds and techniques.
c. Discuss the different sounds produced by their instruments.
d. Play some simple songs or rhythms as a class.
a. Ask the students to reflect on their experience of creating musical instruments from waste materials.
b. Discuss the importance of recycling and reusing waste materials to reduce waste.
c. Conclude the lesson by having the students share their instruments with the class.
Assessment will be based on the students' ability to build a musical instrument from waste materials and their participation in the process of playing the musical instrument, taking into account criteria such as CREATIVITY, TEAMWORK, PROBLEM-SOLVING and ENGAGEMENT.
In Maths, learners can use their instruments to explore patterns and rhythms. They can experiment with creating beats and rhythms incorporating fractions and decimals. For example, they could try dividing a beat into halves or quarters to observe the results. In addition, they can count the beats in a time signature to create rhythms.
In Science, learners can use their instruments to investigate the properties of sound. Through experiments, they can examine how changing the size or shape of an instrument affects the pitch and volume of the sound produced. In addition, they can explore the influence of different materials on sound production. For example, comparing plastic instruments with cardboard ones allows them to analyse the variations in the resulting sounds.
As part of the Social Studies subject, learners have the opportunity to use their instruments as a means of discovering and appreciating music and cultures from around the world. By carrying out research, they can learn about the instruments and even create their own versions using recycled materials. What's more, this exploration allows them to immerse themselves in the history of music and understand its evolution over time.
In Language Arts learners can bring their instruments into play when exploring poetic styles and engaging in creative writing exercises. They can compose rhythms and melodies to enhance their writing projects. Additionally they will have the chance to learn how to effectively incorporate onomatopoeia techniques into their writing and use their instruments to create experiences.
In Physical Education, learners can integrate their instruments to support dance and movement activities. They can create rhythms and beats that synchronise with the tempo of the music, reinforcing their movements. In addition, they can use their instruments as a means of exploring a range of movements, from deliberate and slow to fast, while exploring the harmonious connection between movement and music.
Roadie blog
https://www.roadiemusic.com/blog/how-to-make-your-own-instruments-from-recycled-materials
"The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein"