African Drum Activity

Get into the rhythm with this African drum activity that makes a great homemade instrument for your jam sessions! Also known as a monkey drum, this African spinning drum is a percussion instrument that's spun in the hands, releasing two corded beads to strike the drum. Your child can paint designs on his own drum to create a beautiful one-of-a-kind instument.

What You Need:

• Cardstock
• Medium-sized bowl
• Pencil
• Straw or popsicle stick
• String or cord
• Beads
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Markers

What You Do:

1. Show your child how to trace two circles on cardstock using an upside-down bowl and a pencil. Cut the circles out.
2. Invite him to draw and color designs on both of the circles with markers. You can look up traditional African designs in books or online to spark your creativity.
3. Now your child can place the two circles on top of each other, with the designs facing out, and make two staples close to each other to create the gap for the handle to fit into. The space between the staples should be the same width as the straw or stick.
4. Stick the handle into the hole.
5. Have your child cut a piece of cord about 6" long and tie a bead at the end of it. Repeat this step so he has two of these.
6. Stick the end of one cord between the two layers of the drum, on the left side, and staple it in place. Repeat this for the other cord on the right side of the drum.
7. Now your child can staple all around the two cardstock circles for a sturdy drum.
8. To play the drum, hold the handle upright between the palms of the hands, and roll it so the beads strike the drum alternately.

Turn on your favorite song and try to follow the beat!