THE SOUND OF P.R.I.D.E.
Summary: Students will explore drums across cultures, receiving joyful and positive exposure to Black, African, and international styles of music. They will not only learn how to make a drum, but also explore the social importance of drums to their and other cultures.
Group size & ages: Ten three- to four-year-olds
Anti-bias Goals: Develop positive associations with African countries (to see Africa as more than one overgeneralized whole), identify the cultural assets in Africa, and positively identify the music of one's own ancestors
Cultural Competencies:
Competency 3: Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Educators...
A. ...respect the real-world experiences of learners, educators, educational leaders, and families and the diverse funds of knowledge they bring into educational spaces.
B. ...integrate multiple perspectives into learning experiences and interactions. They facilitate learning experiences with questions and activities that capitalize on learners' real-world experiences, identities, and heritage. They leverage learners' cultural backgrounds and funds of knowledge as resources to assist with learning new information and skills across learning experiences.
C. ...recognize that learners are connected to local and global communities and events that influence and impact their learning and their relationship to and understanding of their social worlds.
Essential Questions: Why do you like the music that you like? Why is music important? Why are drums important to a song? What do drums look like in different cultures?
Concepts/vocabulary:
Types of drums (And place of origin): Djembe (West Africa/Numu Blacksmiths), DunDuns (Guinea), Sabar (Senegal), Steel Drum (Trinidad & Tobago)
PRIDE Theme: My Roots
Learning objectives:
Students will be able to play a drum in a variety of ways. They will be able to name different kinds of drums, their use in different ceremonies, and integrate them into imaginative play.
Activity descriptions: Here are a variety of drum lessons and activities to explore drums and their cultural importance
Drumming Introduction: The following book and activities serve as an introduction to the Djembe drum and how rhythm is the foundation of music.
set the stage for social and cultural lessons, begin with a hands-on drumming experience! Model how to drum while singing the children's favorite songs. Next pass out drums for children to play while you sing along.
Book: When You Meet a Djembe Drum by Aderemi T Adeyemi
Story and Songs
Read Drum Dream Girl, and listen to one of Millo's songs. Count the beats along with the rhythm, then pass out drums to have everyone drum along.
Copycat game
With the teacher playing a beat and having the children copy, altogether or in turns. Then you can switch and have the children play for you and others to copy.
Drums in Africa
Read the various books from the book list about famous drummers and how drums are used in cultural ceremonies. This will allow you to learn the names for different types of drums, styles of music, musicians, and also to connect this with how children experience drumming in their own lives.
Create a map of Africa and small pictures of different drums to be placed with their place of origin.
[Note: It is important to introduce or refresh children's knowledge about Africa and its countries to connect this lesson with its real world context]
Djembe drum: (video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5U8md4rZS8) Originating in the Mali Empire over 1000 years ago, this drum was an important instrument that the king used wherever he went, such as to battle or for celebration, because it was especially loud. There was even a special rhythm used to announce the arrival of the king, and the loud sound would be passed from mountaintop to mountaintop. It is made out of wood, which represents the family tree
Drum Creation
Collect a variety of containers, lids, fabric squares, and rubber bands for children to assemble into different drums, explore their sound, and connect them with the variety of drums they have learned about in the previous lessons!
Drum Imaginative Play
Drums can be added to the dramatic play area for children to act out the stories and ceremonies they have learned about.
Closing activity:
To conclude this theme, invite families for a musical celebration. This can include time for each family to share their own songs (either recorded or played aloud), food, and dancing. The children will be excited to show all they have learned, as well as to experience the power of music in bringing a community together.
Resources/materials/references:
(for books, see book list page)
Home Connection:
Ask parents about drums in the countries from they are from, then print out pictures to add to the drum map of the world.