Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to create your own fall-themed musical instruments and understand the different sounds they make.

Materials and Prep

• Empty containers (such as plastic bottles, tin cans, or yogurt cups)
• Dried beans, rice, or small pebbles
• Fall-themed decorations (leaves, acorns, or small twigs)
• Markers or paint
• Tape or glue
• Scissors

You may need help from an adult to gather the materials and prepare the instruments.

Activities

1. Create your fall-themed musical instruments:

   • Choose an empty container and decorate it with fall-themed decorations using markers or paint.
   • Add dried beans, rice, or small pebbles into the container to create different sounds.
   • Secure the container with tape or glue to prevent the contents from spilling out.

2. Experiment with your instruments:

   • Shake the instruments gently and listen to the sound they produce.
   • Try shaking them harder or softer to hear how the sound changes.
   • Compare the sounds of different instruments and describe what you hear.

3. Create a fall-themed musical performance:

   • Choose a fall-related song or create your own melody.
   • Use your instruments to accompany the song or melody.
   • Perform your musical piece for your family or friends.

Preschool Grade Talking Points

• "In the fall, we can make our own musical instruments using things we find at home."
• "We can decorate our instruments with fall-themed decorations like leaves, acorns, or twigs."
• "When we shake the instruments, they make different sounds. Some are loud, and some are soft."
• "We can change the sound by shaking the instruments harder or softer."
• "We can compare the sounds of different instruments and describe what we hear."
• "We can use our instruments to play a fall-related song or make our own melody."
• "We can perform our musical piece for our family or friends."