I was wondering if anyone had any creative ways of tying in sustainability into lesson plans for fine arts, specifically music. The target audience is elementary aged students.
Thanks!
Susanne Lewis
Sustainability Coordinator ARAMARK
Teaching Plan for Music & Sustainability
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I'm not a music teacher but I build musical instruments from recycled materials. One really cool instrument is called a "hank drum" It is made from old 20 lb propane tanks. It makes beautiful music. They are easy to make if you or someone you know is handy with an angle grinder. You need to have the valve taken off, any place that sells propane will have the equipment to do this. Then fill the tank full of water to displace any leftover propane. Drain the water and cut a larger hole around the hole that held the valve so that you can get your hand and a scrubbing brush inside. The inside has to be scrubbed with vinegar and water to get rid of the mercaptan smell. Check out this website: www.oddmusic.com/gallery/hank-drum.html.
At the bottom of the page you will see a picture of the "hapi drum" This is an easy pattern to cut with an angle grinder. The longer the tongue, the lower the note. I take issue with the author's admonition not to use old propane tanks. Let's recycle. New tanks cost $40. Old tanks are free.
Feel free to contact me via e-mail if you want more info:
Charles Justice [email protected]
Susanne ?
I know that Raffi, the Canadian children's musician, is passionate about sustainability issues and has some resources on his website, including relevant songs: http://www.raffinews.com/sustainability/raffi http://www.raffinews.com/sustainability/cool-it (his song about climate change)
A friend who teaches kindergarten also recommends the resources at this 'Songs for Environmental Education' website: http://www.geocities.com/envirosongs/
Cheers,
Nils
Nils Klinkenberg
Masters Student,
Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
(http://bth.se/msls)
Alex Ferguson school here in Calgary Alberta created a CD last year titled "Pitch to the Planet". The kids worked with Calgary musician Kris Demeanor to develop the lyrics and create the CD. I was lucky enough to be at their CD release party, which was amazing! For more information you can e-mail Dan Dornan, one of the lead teachers ([email protected] ). http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b101/pdfs/pitch_to_the_planet.pdf
Jessica Martin
Coordinator, Sponsorship & Community Investment
ENMAX Corporation
Ph: (403) 514-3218
Fax: (403) 514-1672
[email protected]
Hi Susanne,
Check out the Voices of Nature Elementary School Program "Cycle of Life" at http://www.cycleoflife.ca/ .
Best of luck,
Amanda Gee
Community Programs Coordinator
North Shore Recycling Program
148 East 2nd Street
North Vancouver, BC V7L 1C3
t: (604) 984-9730
f: (604) 984-3563
e: [email protected]
www.northshorerecycling.ca
See http://www.savetheplanetsong.org/
Marilyn Sobanski
Rainbow Recycling
Black Mountain, NC