Activity:
How to Make a Kazoo
Ever wonder how those kooky kazoos work? Get to know the science behind this silly instrument by making your very own kazoo. A kazoo makes noise when your voice vibrates the tissue paper membrane. The sound waves from your voice get altered when they hit the tissue membrane, creating the funky humming noise you hear when you play. Help your child create his own music with a crafty kazoo he can make and decorate himself.
Click to find similar content by grade or subject.
What You Need:
- A toilet paper tube
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Stickers
- Rubberbands
- Wax paper
What You Do:
- Have your child decorate the toilet paper tube with construction paper and/or stickers. A kazoo is a silly instrument, so encourage something fun, possibly stripes or polka dots. Hold things in place with rubber bands until the glue dries.
- Help him poke a small hole midway down the tube. This will help keep things dry and keep the wax paper membrane in place when he plays his handmade instrument.
- Cut a piece of wax paper, 3 inches by 3 inches square.
- Rubber band the wax paper over one end of the tube. This is the membrane that will vibrate and make the music that everyone will hear.
- Now it is time to play. For non-kazoo people, your son will need to hum loudly into the kazoo. Or he can sing into it. The sound of your son’s voice is what makes the membrane vibrate. It will be echo-y and distorted though, so don’t be surprised when it doesn’t sound exactly like him.
Encourage your child to play along with his favorite songs. Or maybe he’d like to lead the family in a kazoo crazy band! Have fun as you explore the world of music together.
