Submitted by Theresa Goble, La Porte, Indiana

Idea posted March 25, 2002

Here are a couple of ideas for some musical crafts that could be used at a 5-11 music camp:

  1. Pringles can shakers: Have the kids decorate an 8x11 piece of construction paper with any sort of design they'd like. Help them fit it around the outside of the Pringles can, and tape it securely. Fill the inside with rice, small pebbles, etc. Put on the top. (I usually hot glue the top shut!) Voilá! Fun shaker!
  2. Go to Wal-Mart or any other place that processes film. Ask if you can have LOTS of empty film canisters that they usually recycle. Purchase plenty of tiny stickers. Fill the shakers with rice, small pebbles, etc... Decorate the outside with stickers. Hot glue the tops on... More shakers!
  3. Discuss instruments. (Get your hands on some instrument posters.) Take butcher paper and trace around each child, but here's the twist: Have them decide what instrument they'd like to be playing and place them in that position. After they cut out their shadow, they can draw in themselves PLUS the instrument. Have them color or paint it, and display it at the camp!
  4. If you have the budget, after discussing instruments, have them make very tiny, miniature versions of an instrument using Sculpey III. If you're unfamiliar with this wonderful, moldable material, you can purchase it at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby. NEVER buy Fimo dough... My kids tell me that it crumbles and is just about worthless for molding. After they're done creating, you bake the tiny instruments in the oven on 250 degrees for about 20 minutes. They harden and you can wrap them in tissue paper and send them home. I've done this activity with 1st-5th grades and they ALL loved it!

Hope this gets you going!