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Create Your Own Musical Instrument STEAM Activity

May 4, 2017 by OneMommy

Looking for some fun music STEM activities to help kids discover the science of sound?  

Making musical instruments is a fun way to mix art and science in a simple Making Musical Instruments STEM Challenge.

Actually, this STEM activity is really STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math).  But whatever you call it, it is fun for kids of all ages.

STEM music activity -- making your own musical instrument

Kids of all ages love STEM activities.

This musical instrument stem challenge is easily modified for different ages and levels.

For older kids you could put stipulations on their creation, such as it has to incorporate at least 3 different items.  They may also enjoy decorating their instruments.

Younger children will have fun exploring the different materials as they get creative.

Making a music instrument and having a mini band would be a fun backyard summer camp idea.

Making Musical Instruments STEAM

You could use a wide variety of materials for this activity.  I’ve included a list of suggested materials to get you started.  Affiliate links have been used for your convenience at no added expense to you.

Suggested Materials:

  • craft sticks
  • pipe cleaners
  • plastic lids in various sizes
  • empty plastic bottles
  • plastic drinking straws
  • small cardboard box
  • empty metal can
  • dried rice, beans, or pasta
  • plastic and/or wood spoons
  • cardboard toilet paper/paper towel tubes
  • rubber bands
  • tape

Depending on how many objects you choose to include and how many kids are participating in the activity, you might choose to put them all in a large container, such as an empty box or clothes basket.

This way the kids can pick and choose from all the objects to create their own musical instruments.

Or you can pick 4-5 different types of objects and place them in a small paper bag.  Give a bag to each child (or pair of kids) and challenge them to create musical instruments using only the materials in their bag.

musical instrument STEM activity for kids

No matter how you set up this musical STEAM activity, it is highly likely that a drum is one of the first things they will create.

Whether its plastic lids, an empty tin can, or a cardboard box, pretty soon they will be banging out a rhythm all their own.

The fun part is seeing just how creative the kids get when making musical instruments of their own.

kids DIY musical instrument STEAM activity

We started off with plastic lid drums and some dried beans in a bottle as a shaker.

Pretty soon they were experimenting with how many different ways they could make music with craft sticks.

They made rhythm sticks by wrapping one craft stick with yarn and rubbing it with another stick.  A pipe cleaner held 2 other craft sticks together to create a slapping sound when they were pulled apart.

simple STEAM activity: create a musical instrument

This simple make a musical instrument STEM activity is fun for kids of all ages.

Once the kids have finished experimenting, it’s the perfect time for them to try playing a tune together.  You may even have an impromptu marching band!

kids DIY musical instrument activity

You may also enjoy:

  • 15 Musical Instrument Crafts for Kids from Red Ted Art
  • 10 Musical Instruments Kids Can Make from Planning Playtime
  • Design a Boat that Floats STEM Challenge
  • Create Your Own Marble Run STEM Activity 


Filed Under: Kids Activities Tagged With: recycled craft, STEM activity

Comments

  1. maggy, red ted art says

    May 6, 2017 at 5:30 am

    Oh I LOVE all your ideas! What a fun afternoon! And thank you so much for linking to our Musical Craft DIYs resource!!

    • OneMommy says

      May 7, 2017 at 12:29 pm

      They had lots of fun getting creative with this one. Some of their ideas were pretty crazy — which was great to see their minds working.
      Thanks for stopping by!

  2. OneMommy says

    May 7, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    My 7 and 9 year old both had lots of fun with this one. They came up with some pretty complicated ideas later in the day.

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