Objective:
Students will create musical instruments out of objects that are being thrown away or recycled. They will practice using the “reuse” part of the phrase, “Reduce- Reuse- Recycle”.

Materials:
-Clean non-sharp containers that are being thrown away or recycled
This can be given as a homework assignment and / or collected at school
-Students can make instruments that ring, shake, scrape, tap or clap
-Small items to put in shakers such as dried corn, beans or rice
-Art materials to use for decorating (tissue paper, glitter, paint, glue, gems, sequence, etc)

Introduction:
“We have been talking about why it is important to Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. Today we will use the items we have collected to make musical instruments.”

Lesson:
Display items collected. Talk about the different types of instruments that can be made.
Ring- items that make sounds when bumping into each other such as keys jingling on a chain
Scrape- items that make sound when scraped such as sand paper
Shake- items that make sound when you shake it such as a plastic water bottle filled with dried beans
Clap- items that make sound when you hit both together such as 2 blocks of wood
Tap- items that make sound when you hit with a stick such as a box hit with a popsicle stick or stick found outside on the ground
Allow students time to explore all possibilities and to be creative.
Create musical instruments, then decorate with art supplies.

Closure:
Share musical instruments with the class

Assessment/Evaluation:
Teacher observation
Student participation

Extending the lesson:
-Create band uniforms from lesson entitled Garbage Band Uniforms.
-Write a song for all to sing and accompany with musical instruments.
Songs are very easy to write. Take a simple tune from a common nursery rhyme or song and change the words to sing about the topic that you are studying. Sing a song about garbage or recycling, then after the verses play the instruments. This way others can still hear the words and appreciate what you have to say.
-Have a parade or a concert.