| We are going to explore the xylophone!
Prepare:
1. Display the letter X
Xylophone poster
2. Prepare a display to explore a toy xylophone and other
percussion instruments that you may
have: drums, castanets, maracas, cymbals, triangle, chimes, timpani, and
bells, etc. Refer to the display while presenting the rest of
the activities. Allow time for children to explore and enjoy the
instruments.
Activity> Learning about a musical instrument and its
origin:
The xylophone
(Greek xylon=wood, phone=sound) or marimba
(almost identical) belongs to the family of percussion
instruments. This musical instrument originated in the
African continent.
A toy xylophone is in many cases the first musical instrument that helps a young child to discover those magical musical notes and
the richness of colors. What a
powerful learning tool!
Activity > Online Activity: Listening to the
Xylophone and to other members of the percussion family
Visit dsokids.com
to listen to the xylophone, includes a short rendition of Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star.
View different percussion instrument coloring pages, and click on the link to listen to instrument.
Activity 3: Craft - Xylophone Craft displaying the Rainbow
Colors
Skills to discuss during craft activity: Colors, Letter X,
Rectangle Shape, Counting, Sizing
The xylophone toy version usually displays many colors that are represented in
each rectangular bar.
The craft showcases the colors of the rainbow, each color
bar is a rectangle that displays letter X twice. The base in the color version shows a
brown wooden texture to reinforce that a traditional xylophone
is made of wood and the root of the word "xylon" stands for
wood. The mallets will be used to demonstrate letter X
again as they laid on top of the xylophone.
Printing Options:
1. Option 1: Print color templates and review assembly
and learning activities below.
The pieces can be precut or children can help cut some of the
pieces. The xylophone base can be cut out optionally. It
is easier for young children to glue to the uncut base.
2. Option 2: This option is best for large
groups. Use black and white templates or a combination of black
and white templates
2 (base) and 3
(mallots) and the template 1 bars with color outline and children can color
each section in designated colors.
3. Option 3: (Large groups children under 4)
Print black and white bars template on card stock and use the bar templates
to trace over construction paper that has been fan folded to obtain
the number of pieces needed in each color.
Activity 4: Basic Skills Learning Activities with the
Craft
1. Color discussion: Discuss
and identify each color bar. Example: Hold a color bar and
say: What color is this? Yes, yellow. What
other things are yellow. How about the sun or a
lemon.
2. Shape - The rectangle. For this activity we can focus
on the rectangle shape of each color bar. Discuss that the color
panels are
rectangles (two long sides and two short sides).
Have the children find other things around them that are rectangles -
a door, a refrigerator, window, area rug or table.
3. Alphabet Letter X - Each color bar displays two
letter X's, discuss and identify the X. Display the Xylophone
poster and say that xylophone starts with the letter X. Conduct
a separate activity for letter X. During the craft assembly the
mallets glued over the assembled xylophone to form an X as
illustrated.
4. Counting & Sizing: Have the children count
and organize the color bar rectangles in size sequence
from shortest to longest. Ask which bar is
the shortest? Which is thelongest?
Learning about Primary Colors and Secondary Colors:
Before the assembly, the color panels can be used to make a
presentation about primary colors and how these mix to form secondary
colors. Print and additional template #1 to make a
demonstration and use these materials and presentation for this purpose.
Assembly Suggestions:
The color panels should be first arranged from top to bottom by placing them
in size order aligning the X's to keep centered.
Other activities:
Lego Block Xylophone: Suggest to children to make a
xylophone with Lego blocks. and display their creations.
Clay or Play dough Xylophone: Children can use clay or play
dough to create xylophone with rectangle cookie cutter or play knifes
and roller.
Water and Rainbow Colors Xylophone - Science Activity: An oldie with a
twist!
Many of you are probably familiar with the water xylophone in
elementary school. This one has one additional element:
color mixing
Instructions:
1. You need six to eight glasses or glass jars (I use jam/jelly jars)
the same size.
2. Line them up next to each other but not touching. Gradually
add water to each jar from a little to the last one close to the
rim.
3. Add a bit of tempera paint or food coloring showing children how
mixing the primary colors will yield the secondary color - start with
red, then mix red and yellow to get orange, the third glass is
yellow, and so forth in the same order of the rainbow.
4. To keep the glasses steady make a base with play dough and press
the glass on the base.
5. Give children new pencils or regular metal spoons and have them tap
the glasses to hear the different sounds that are produced. The
glasses with more water will produce a lower pitch sound, and those with
less water will produce a higher pitch sound.
Resource >
*Water
Xylophone > Using glasses > add food
coloring
*The
Five Note Water Xylophone > Older elementary children
|
Xylophone Craft
Craft Color
3 Templates
Bars full color or
Bars with color outline
Base | Mallets
Black & White
3 Templates
Bars| Base | Mallets
Printing Tip:
You can print two sets of mallets on the same page by reinserting
the page on your printer and turning the page around.
Letter X Xylophone printable
activities
|
