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Teacher Notes Teacher Notes
Key Question
How can we create musical instruments using
recyclable materials?
For this challenge, teams will use recyclable materials to create two musical
instruments. First grade students should have a basic understanding of what
recycling and reusing means, but it may be helpful to review these concepts.
First grade students should recognize properties of materials such as bigger
or smaller, heavier or lighter, shape, and texture (TEKS K.5A) and know that
materials can be reused and recycled (TEKS K.1B). In kindergarten, students
may have used their senses to explore sound energy such as hitting a drum
(force) to create a noise. Students may know that sound energy comes from
vibrations that create sound waves. The sound waves travel through air or
other mediums into our ears where they make our eardrums vibrate, and we
hear sounds.
Students may have limited experiences with or knowledge of different types of
musical instruments. Ask a music teacher, musician from your community, or
faculty member with knowledge of instruments to speak to your class about
different types of instruments.
To help each team select the instruments they want to create, you may
list, share books about, post photos, or share videos of common musical
instruments. You may also procure actual instruments on which students can
play. Doing these things may help each team select the instruments they want
to create. Student teams may decide to combine several ideas to create a new,
unique instrument.
Challenge 1: Making Music: Recycling Is Instrumental!
Problem
Your school is looking for new musical instruments
for music class. Can you help think of ways to make
instruments?
Design Challenge
With your team, use recyclable materials to create two
musical instruments.
Grade Grade 11
Teacher Notes Teacher Notes
Key Question
How can we create musical instruments using
recyclable materials?
For this challenge, teams will use recyclable materials to create two musical
instruments. First grade students should have a basic understanding of what
recycling and reusing means, but it may be helpful to review these concepts.
First grade students should recognize properties of materials such as bigger
or smaller, heavier or lighter, shape, and texture (TEKS K.5A) and know that
materials can be reused and recycled (TEKS K.1B). In kindergarten, students
may have used their senses to explore sound energy such as hitting a drum
(force) to create a noise. Students may know that sound energy comes from
vibrations that create sound waves. The sound waves travel through air or
other mediums into our ears where they make our eardrums vibrate, and we
hear sounds.
Students may have limited experiences with or knowledge of different types of
musical instruments. Ask a music teacher, musician from your community, or
faculty member with knowledge of instruments to speak to your class about
different types of instruments.
To help each team select the instruments they want to create, you may
list, share books about, post photos, or share videos of common musical
instruments. You may also procure actual instruments on which students can
play. Doing these things may help each team select the instruments they want
to create. Student teams may decide to combine several ideas to create a new,
unique instrument.
Challenge 1: Making Music: Recycling Is Instrumental!
Problem
Your school is looking for new musical instruments
for music class. Can you help think of ways to make
instruments?
Design Challenge
With your team, use recyclable materials to create two
musical instruments.
Grade Grade 11
