Materials Needed:

1. Two paper bowls per child

2. Tempera paints

3. Liquid detergent

4.  One yard of Rex-lace (also called gimp or boondoggle lace) for each drum that adds a bell or bead

5. The song, Land of the Silver Birch from the recording, Down by the Sea

6. Masking Tape

7. Hole punch

8. Stir sticks (you can get them from any paint store)

9. Beans or rise

10.  Beads and/or bells

Procedure:

1. Ask the students to listen for instrumental sounds in the song, Land of the Silver Birch as you play the song.

2. Students paint designs on two bowls (Hint: When using Tempera paint, add some detergent for easy clean up. It also prevents the paint from cracking after it has dried).

3. Place beads or rice in bowls and glue bowls together, including stir sticks as handles.  Some students will choose not to have the beads added for sound.

4. Use masking tape to seal the bowls securely.

5. To make different sounds for the drums:  Teacher punches holes around the top half of the drum.

6. Teacher ties a bead or bell to one end of the Rex-lace and shows student how to begin threading rexlace leaving about 4 inches at the end before the bead or bell. This way when the drum is in a swinging motion the bead will be able to hit the middle of the bowl.

7. Student threads the holes with relax until he threads through all the holes.  Teacher will then leave about 4 inches again and tie another bead or bell at that end of the Rex-lace.

8. Have students sit in groups with their drums.  One group will have a drum with no beans/rice; some students will have beans/rice; some students will have beads on their drums; some students will have bells on their drums. Play the song Land of the Silver Birch again and conduct the students when to play their instrument.  Give each group a chance to play alone and with other groups.