Recycled Stomp: Build Your Instrument, Write Your Phrase

Groups explore the sounds of recycled materials, build their own instruments and compose a rhythm phrase that mixes objects and body percussion. The focus is group creation and a shared beat.

How to play

1. Sound exploration: each group finds as many different sounds as possible from each object (hit, rub, crumple, roll) (6 min).
2. Groups of five build or prep their instruments and choose three favorite sounds (8 min).
3. Compose an eight-count phrase mixing object hits, claps and stomps (10 min).
4. Rehearse to the teacher's beat, then perform in canon with another group (8 min).
5. Group performances; each listening group names one thing the performers nailed rhythmically (8 min).

Rules

• Hit the materials, never people, and keep everything away from faces.
• No metal caps on bottles and no staples in boxes.
• Keep the volume in check: the teacher's closed fist means total silence.
• Everyone in the group gets a sound in the phrase.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: low sounds on boxes, which can be felt as vibration, and visual finger counts.
• Wheelchair users: instrument on a table or lap, with the same role in the phrase.
• Students who struggle to create: a card with three model phrases to modify.

Learning goals

• Explore the sound possibilities of everyday objects.
• Compose and perform a group rhythm phrase.
• Value reusing materials.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plastic bottles: 15
• cardboard boxes: 10
• cardboard tubes: 15
• newspapers: 10
• tape: 6

Teacher tip

Ask for recycled materials a week ahead and store them in one box per group. Set a hard time limit for building, or the whole class turns into a tape party.

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