Music At Home: Extension

Have you been dancing to music this week with your kids? Here's an easy little craft you can do to make your slower selections more fun:

Ribbon Dancing

Materials:

• Long dowel (1 per child)
• Ribbon (about 1" wide) (Length: See instructions) 1 per child
• Screw in eye hook (1 per child)
• 2" length of wire (1 per child)
• Small grommet (1 per child)
• Grommet Setter
• 1 tbs white glue mixed with 1 tbs water

Directions:

1. First, measure each child and multiply their height by 1.5 This will be the length of your ribbon.
2. Screw the screw eye into the dowel so it sticks out the end.
3. Fold one end of the ribbon over about 1". Set a grommet in the end so that it keeps the ribbon folded over.
4. Dip the other end of the ribbon into the glue mixture (to keep it from fraying)
5. Use the wire to fasten the grommet end of the ribbon to the eye hook in the dowel.

Once the glue is dry, your ribbon wand is ready for dancing with. Experiment with ways to wave it around, such as making circles over your head, or in front of you. Figure eights look beautiful. Try spinning with your wand held out in front of you as you wiggle it. This makes a beautiful wave shape. Enjoy expressing your selected music with your ribbon wand.

(Note: You can attach the ribbon to the dowel with a flat headed push pin if you want to, however it will not last as long. Also, you can have your children paint the dowel!)