How to Make Scarves

To make your own scarves, visit a fabric store and purchase
nylon fabric in the colors you desire. Nylon is the best
material because it does not need to be hemmed. It is also
light in weight and floats well when you toss it or swing it
in the air.

Nylon usually comes in rolls 44"- 60" wide. For youngest
children between 18" squares and 22" squares work best.
22"- 36" squares work best for children K-3rd grade up to
adult. Rectangle shapes also.

Cut or tear the fabric into squares or rectangles anywhere
from 18" to 36". Plan the dimensions to fit the size of the
children you are working with and to get the most out of
your fabric.

For example, with the 60" width, first, tear or cut it down
the middle. If the fabric is 2 yards long you will now have
two pieces 30" wide x 72" long.


If you tear this 30" x 72" rectangular piece into 3rds, you will have 3 pieces 30" x 24".
If you tear it in half you will have 2 pieces 30" x 36".

Helpful Hints
The exact size is not critical. You can fold the fabric in half and/or
thirds, or just "eyeball it" and then cut or tear it into pieces.

With regular nylon make a small cut with the scissors, and then just
tear it. It tears in nice straight lines. Stretch nylon, however, needs
to be cut with scissors; it will not tear in a straight line.

To purchase nylon fabric for scarves, check out fabric stores near
your home or search the internet.

Music:
Scarves can be used with many Hap Palmer songs.

Song: Colors
CD: Learning Basic Skills Through Music
Colors Used: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green

Song: Colors In Motion (Basic)
CD: Can Cockatoos Count By Twos?
Colors Used: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange

Song: Colors In Motion (Mixing Colors)
CD: Can Cockatoos Count By Twos?
Colors Used: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange

Song: Magic Scarf
CD: Can Cockatoos Count By Twos?
Colors Used: Any Color

Song: Toss It High Let It Fly
CD: Can Cockatoos Count By Twos?
Colors Used: Any Color

Song: Veamos a los colores moverse (Colors In Motion)
CD: Divirtámonos aprendiendo con Hap Palmer
Colors Used: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange

The scarves can also be used with creative movement activities using
instrumental music from Movin', Seagulls, and Quiet Places, or any
other classical, jazz, or world music.

Back to Top

How to Make Hoops

You can make durable hoops (better than any available commercially) from
flexible polyethylene pipe and a coupling (one per circle). These materials are
available at hardware stores or plumbing supply houses.

1. Cut the pipe with tin snips, a sharp knife, or a hacksaw.
• Four feet of pipe makes a circle approximately 15 inches in diameter.
• Six feet of pipe makes a circle approximately 23 inches in diameter.
• Eight feet of pipe makes a circle approximately 30 inches in diameter.

2. Form the circle by joining the ends of the pipe with a coupling.

Helpful Hints
Dipping the ends of the pipe in warm water may help the coupling slip in
more easily.

For small circles, use a hacksaw to saw 1/2" of each end of the coupling.

Music:
Hoops can be used with many Hap Palmer songs.

Song: The Circle
CD: Getting To Know Myself

Song: The Circle Game
CD: Getting To Know Myself

Song: Muddy Water Puddle
CD: Sally The Swinging Snake

Song: On The Count Of Five
CD: Sally The Swinging Snake

Song: Stepping Out On The Town
CD: Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?

Hoops can also be used for creative movement activities using your
favorite classical, jazz, or world music.

Back to Top

How to Make Rhythm Instruments

These homemade instruments are inexpensive and easy to make. They
also have a softer sound than commercially made rhythm instruments,
which makes it possible for all children to play and still hear the music.

Bolt - Use a large eyebolt. Loop a shoelace or piece of string through
the eye of the bolt so it can hang freely. Strike the bolt with a metal
spoon handle for a beautiful ringing sound much like the sound from a
triangle or chime.

Tambourine - For this instrument you need only two bottle caps and a
piece of wood approximately 1/2" square by 6" long. Punch a hole in
the center of each bottle cap. This can be done with a medium size nail.
Attach the cap to a slender piece of wood using a smaller nail so the cap
can ring freely.

Shaker - Drop dried peas, beans, or rice inside a recycled household
container such as a plastic jar, soda or juice can, or a bandage can.

Wood Block - This block has a surprisingly pleasing, resonant sound.
It is made from scraps of 1/4" plywood and 3/4" square pine. Glue three
pieces of 3/4" square pine on top of one piece of 1/4" plywood so that
each piece runs along an edge. Leave one edge open. Then glue a second
piece of plywood on top to form a hollow block. Use good-quality
wood glue. Put the block under weight (books, a rock, etc.) or pressure
(rubber bands, a C-clamp) and allow to dry overnight.

Sticks - Cut hardwood dowels of any thickness into one foot lengths.

Bells - String jingle bells on a piece of string or yarn and tie it into
a loop.

You can design your own instruments using materials you have on hand.

Back to Top

Making Bean Bags

Here's a way to use those old socks with lost mates. Select socks with no
holes in the toes and you can make inexpensive bean bags. This is all
you need:
• Old socks
• Dry rice or beans.
• Measuring cup or serving spoon
• White glue (optional)
• Color marking pens (optional)

Instructions:
1. Using a measuring cup, pour 3/4 to 1-1/2 cups of rice or beans into
the sock.

or

Spoon 10 - 18 level serving spoons of rice or beans into a sock. (A 10
pound bag of rice will make 12 - 20 bean bags.) You can experiment
with different size socks and pour the amount of rice or beans you need
to make the size bag you prefer.

2. Shake the rice or beans down to the toe of the sock, and tie a knot
working it down snug against the rice or beans as you tighten the knot.*

3. Cut the sock approximately 1" above the knot.

4. For extra protection, run a little white glue along the cracks in the knot
and at the top end of the knot to prevent fraying.

5. If you choose, use various colors of marking pens to decorate your
bean bag with pictures, designs or patterns.

* If you are handy with a needle and thread or a sewing machine, you can
cut the sock 1" - 2" above the rice or beans, and fold the edge and sew a
seam to seal the bag. You can also fold the edge and seal it with white glue.

Music:
Bean bags can be used with many Hap Palmer songs.

Song: The Bean Bag
CD: Can A Jumbo Jet Sing The Alphabet?

Song: Bean Bag Alphabet Rag
CD: Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?

Song: What Could A Bean Bag Be?
CD: Can A Jumbo Jet Sing The Alphabet?

Song: Bean Bag Shake
CD: Rhythms On Parade

Song: Sharing The Bean Bag
CD: Can A Jumbo Jet Sing The Alphabet?

Back to Top