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Percussion Instruments Basket
Activity Basket

Percussion Instruments Basket

Drums, shakers, and clackers gathered in one basket for a joyful rhythm session that turns into a mini parade.

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Ages 3-610 min prep
Drum, shakers, claves and triangle, all in one basket.
Drum, shakers, claves and triangle, all in one basket.
A pot and a wooden spoon still make the best drum in the house.
A pot and a wooden spoon still make the best drum in the house.
Homemade shakers and a paper-plate tambourine.
Homemade shakers and a paper-plate tambourine.

What you'll need

  • A small hand drum or an upside-down pot with a wooden spoon
  • Homemade shakers (sealed jars with rice or beans)
  • Two wooden claves or short dowels
  • A tambourine or a paper plate with jingle bells taped on
  • A metal triangle or a spoon and metal cup

How to make it

  1. 1

    Lay the basket in the middle of the floor and let your child pick the first instrument.

  2. 2

    Start with a slow steady beat on the drum. Your child copies with their instrument.

  3. 3

    Switch: your child leads a beat and you follow.

  4. 4

    Play echo games — you tap a short pattern (tap-tap-pause-tap), they repeat it.

  5. 5

    Try loud and soft, fast and slow, so they hear how rhythm changes feeling.

  6. 6

    End with a march around the house, everyone holding one instrument.

Tip

Add a stop-and-freeze rule: when the drum stops, everyone freezes. Great for listening skills.