Shake, Rattle, and Roll – Bay Area Discovery Museum

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

The best music is the music you make yourself! In this activity your child will explore the scientific concept of cause and effect by designing, building, and dancing to the sound of their very own shaker.

Learning Goals:
  • Be Curious
  • Build STEM Knowledge
Materials Required:
  • Containers, such as:
    • Recycled metal cans with lids, i.e. coffee cans
    • Plastic bowls/containers, i.e. yogurt containers
    • Wooden or cardboard bowls or containers, i.e. shoe boxes
  • Materials for filling containers*, such as:
    • Pebbles
    • Short, thick twigs
    • Loose buttons
    • Pom-poms
    • Chunky wooden beads
    • Jingle bells
    • Dry pasta
    • Dry beans
  • Baskets or bins for sorting materials
  • Tweezers and scoops, such as spoons, ladles or small shovels.
Instructions:
  • To start, sort your different materials into your baskets or bins.
  • Ask your child to pick a container to make a shaker with, and to use the tweezers or scoops to fill their container with their chosen materials.
  • Encourage children to try out different combinations of materials and containers and to compare and contrast the sounds they hear as they shake each one.
  • Have fun! Let your child enjoy their shaker, and dance along to the music they make.
Tips for Adults:
  • Making predictions is an important science process skill. Ask your child to predict how different materials will sound in different containers. For example, ask them to guess how the sound will change when they use pompoms versus marbles or a metal container versus a shoebox.
  • Incorporate math learning by asking your child how many shakes it takes to make their name. For example, the Car-o-line would be three shakes, while the name Pe-ter would be two. Say your child’s name and shake the shaker for each syllable, counting out loud as you do. You can continue to model syllable counting using other names or fun words.

*Please be aware that small materials may be choking hazards for children under the age of 3.

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