How to Make American Indian Instruments for Cub Scouts

Percussion instruments are easy for kids to play.

Native American Indian lore has always figured largely into the scouting program. Most levels of Cub Scouting have a requirement or an elective that deals with learning about the ways and customs of Native Americans. Many of the ideas for stewardship of the planet that the scouting program encourages have roots in Native American practices. One way for scouts to learn about American Indian tribes is to build objects, such as musical instruments, that the tribes would use.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel tubes
• Cup
• Uncooked dried beans
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Rubber bands
• Markers
• Empty coffee cans
• Glue
• Rain tarp
• Hole punch
• Yarn

Instructions

Rain Stick

1. 

   Rain sticks are used in Native American dances.

   Have the scouts color a paper towel tube using markers.

2. 

   Some scouts may need assistance with scissors.

   Use a cup to trace circles onto construction paper and cut the circles out.

3. Place the paper towel tube end down onto one of the circles. Using a rubber band, secure the circle to the end of the tube.

4. 

   Any kind of dried beans will work, even coffee beans.

   Add a handful of dried beans to the cylinder.

5. Place the remaining circle on the open end of the paper towel tube, and secure with another rubber band.

Drum

1. Give each scout an empty coffee can, with both ends removed, and encourage him to cover his can with construction paper and decorate it. Allow the glue to dry.

2. Cut the tarp into circles that are 1 inch wider than the mouth of the coffee can.

3. Stack two tarp circles together, and use a punch to make holes around the edge of the circles. Holes should be a half-inch from the edge of the circles and spaced about three-quarters of an inch apart.

4. Separate the circles and place the coffee can on top of one of the circles and the second circle on the top of the can.

5. 

   Provide a ball of yarn for each scout.

   Have the scout thread yarn through the holes in the circles, starting at the top and going down and through a hole on the bottom circle. Once the yarn is through the hole in the bottom circle, guide it back up and through the next hole in the top circle. Repeat until all holes have been threaded and tie it.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent the yarn from fraying, wrap the end in scotch tape.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Native American Crafts for Kids