Recycled Instrument Dance Party

When I asked Ana what kind of Birthday Party she wanted to have, her response was immediate- A DANCE PARTY!  And a dance party it was!  I  wanted a simple part with a craft that could be used as a favor as well, and so a home made instrument/dance toy was created.  I will let you know how to make the toys, but I don't have photos of each step since my hands were busy helping 9 kids to make the instruments! 

Materials and Equipment:

• Washed water or pop bottles (I'm from Pittsburgh- It would go against my very being to write "soda")!
• An old newspaper
• Tape or staples 
• Ribbon in the colors of your choosing
• Glue gun
• Rubber Bands
• Scissors
• Beads or rice or beans
• Sharpie

1. Cut two arm lengths of the ribbon.  Fold the ribbon in half.  Put the loop of the ribbon through the rubber bands, and loop the ends back through the spot where the ribbon is folded.  Pull tight.  Add as many ribbons as you would like.  
2. Cut pieces of newspaper in to a small square (about 12"x12").  Cut the square of newspaper in half diagonally.  Roll the newspaper triangle into a funnel.  Make sure the opening is large enough to fit your beads through but small enough to fit in the pop bottle.  Tape and trim the corners so that your top is straight across as pictured above.
3. On party day, plug in the glue guns.  Give each child a funnel and beads.  The kids can fill the bottle themselves using the funnel, but some kids may need their parents' help.  Each bottle needs about a half inch of beads inside.  An adult should write each child's name on their bottle with a sharpie, and glue the caps on using the glue gun. 
4. The children can place their rubber band with ribbons anywhere they like on the bottle.
5. These instruments are ready!  Shake and dance!

"Steve and Susan saved several soda cans

And empty plastic bottles too

They dropped in little beads, dry beans or rice

And made some shakers good as new"

 

~from Homemade Band by Hap Palmer

Tags: recycled, recycle, reuse, upcycle, Ribbon Dancer, streamer, dance, party, birthday, three year old, preschool