In MAKING WAVES, Layla and the Bots design a sound system for a dolphin named Splash—and they learn about sound waves along the way! What better activity to accompany the story than a DIY Musical Instrument? In this video, Vicky walks through the DIY activity found in the back of the book, inviting kids to design and build their own musical instrument.
EXTENSION IDEAS
• Before you start making your instrument, talk about how sound works! A nice resource to start with can be found on DK Find Out: https://www.dkfindout.com/us/science/sound/
• As you add strings to your instrument, explore how thickness, tautness, and length affect the sound of the strings. Invite kids to rearrange their strings to create the pitch pattern of their liking!
• Once their instrument is complete, invite kids to create their own music! Perhaps an improvised jam session is in order, with multiple kids or singing along.
MORE ACTIVITIES
Looking for more activities to accompany the Layla and the Bots books? Find lots more here!
The Book
Written by Vicky Fang, Illustrated by Christine Nishiyama
Available March 1, 2022 from Scholastic Branches
Layla and the Bots are so excited to meet the animals at the Surfside Rescue Center! They meet a sea turtle, a sea lion, and a dolphin named Splash, who needs their help. Splash won’t eat unless there is music playing… but he likes to pick his own music! Can Layla and the Bots build a music machine that will do the job? With full-color artwork on every page, speech bubbles throughout, and a fun DIY activity that’s perfect for at-home learning, this early chapter book series brings kid-friendly STEAM topics to young readers!
Format: Paperback
ISBN 978-1338582970
For personalized/signed copies, leave a comment at checkout with Linden Tree Books.
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