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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nepalese Drum on a Stick

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create a two sided percussion instrument designed to look like a damaru drum from Nepal. They locate Nepal on a map and conduct research on Nepal and the damaru. Students then create a damaru drum using a small plastic container...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Drum

For Teachers K
Students complete a variety of activities related to the folktale from India, "The Drum." They listen to the story and answer comprehension questions, construct a coffee can drum, and complete a phonics and matching worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chinese Dragon Drum Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 6th
Students research the significance of drums and the color red in Chinese culture. They make a replica of a Chinese drum using construction paper and art materials. They examine pictures of Chinese drums before decorating the ones which...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

The Birth of an Icon: Learning and Performing the Origins of the Drum Set and Early Jazz Drumming in New Orleans, Louisiana

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Bass drum, snare drum, tom-toms, cymbals. Perched behind their drum sets, wielding their drum sticks and wire brushes, drummers lay the grove and are the heartbeat of a band's performance. A dynamic lesson introduces young musicians to...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Feel the Beat of the Drums

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
These percussion instruments have a rich history and a variety of uses.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Drumming - Repetition of Patterns

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students are introduced to basic patterns used in African drumming. They listen to examples of drumming by Kundidzora Azim, participate in chants and repeat demonstrated rhythms as a class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Talking Drums

For Teachers K - 12th
Students study African percussion. In this music lesson, students explore Africa's sounds as they discover tonal language, talking drum, message drum, the relationship between talking drums and tonal language, and how to change the pitch...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning the Beat

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify gifts found in folktales. In this folktale lesson plan, students read the Hindi folktale "The Drum" and discuss the value of gifts such as time, talent, treasure, etc. Learners also create drum beats.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chinese Percussion Music

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students investigate Chinese percussion instruments and ensemble performances. They play compositions with Chinese percussion instruments such as small gongs, large gongs and drums.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coffee Can Drum

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners create and decorate a drum made from a coffee can.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Catch the Gullah Beat: Rhythm and Percussion

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore the Gullah culture. In this social studies lesson, students construct and play instruments similar to those of the Gullah people.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Percussion Family

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete a unit to learn about the percussion family and African and Latin drumming. In this percussion lesson, 2nd graders complete 9 lessons to learn about the percussion family. Students learn to use shakers and sticks,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Percussion Instruments

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study percussion instruments from various world cultures. In this percussion instruments lesson, 4th graders listen to percussive sound sources, learn playing techniques, and create compositions for instruments they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Rhythmic Patterns and Drums

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students imitate rhythmic patterns created by the teacher or taken from the drum performance of "Oshossi." They study and perform some of the layered and interlocking rhythms of the drum ensembles of Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, Suriname, and...
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Activity
Quaver

World Percussion — Latin America Project Book

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What's the most popular music style in Brazil? What about Cuba? Or the Dominican Republic? An immersive project teaches young learners about the salsa, the samba, and the merengue with research assignments and dance performances.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And the Beat Goes On...

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students respond to the Indian folktale, The Drum. In this philanthropy lesson, students reflect upon the folktale and demonstrate ways one person can make a difference in the world. Students construct a Powerpoint presentation as a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Acoustics House

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study how drums produce sound by building and playing a simple drum. They measure the diameter of their can, then mark a circle two inches larger in diameter on their piece of plastic with the marker or chalk, and cut out the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asian Rhythms

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students experience another culture through a unit that explores instruments, spoken language, and calligraphy. Students experience the Asian culture first hand through a Taiko Drum Concert, as well as lunch at an Asian Buffet &...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Song and Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the importance of the drum and drumming in the cultural context of the Native American. Musical insturments and native dance is employed to support the focus of the lesson.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

African Music

For Students 6th - 9th
For this music worksheet, students read an excerpt about African Music. Once completed, they respond to eight short answer questions related to the reading. Students also imagine that they are an African musician and suggest how they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storyline Drum Circle

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students perform story songs. In this rhythmic motives activity, students practice melodies, variations, and accompaniments as they read Peter Seeger's Abiyoyo and create compositions to present it as a story-song.
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Sounds of the Silk Road

For Students 6th - 12th
Young explorers may not be able to travel the Silk Road but they can listen to music that was played on instruments of the time and create their own songs with the help of an interesting interactive resource. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Rhythms: Tabla

For Teachers K - 8th
Students use various materials to build and play simple percussion based on a Silk Road design, and write step-by-step instructions for others about how to make and play instrument.
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PPT
Curated OER

Latin American Music

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learn about the music of Latin America! Four types of music are defined by their instruments, uses, and cultural impact or influences. Indigenous, Iberian, African influenced, and Urban music are all discussed.