Shaker Bottle Symphony

What you need

• a few small plastic bottles with lids
• dry rice or pasta
• a tray to shake on
• a strip of tape

How to do it

1. Half-fill a few plastic bottles with rice or pasta and twist the lids on tight.
2. Tape each lid shut before handing the bottle over.
3. Shake each bottle in turn and listen. Which one is loudest?
4. Shake fast, then slow, following a simple beat together.

Why it matters

Shaking and comparing sounds sharpens listening, and gripping and shaking the bottles builds the wrist control that later helps with pouring drinks and writing.

What they're learning

sound comparison

telling which bottle is loudest or quietest is an early listening skill that later helps them follow spoken instructions in noisy rooms.

wrist rotation

shaking a bottle up, down and side to side works the same wrist movement used for turning door handles and taps.

rhythm matching

shaking in time with you is a first step toward keeping a beat with others, which shows up later in group singing and games.

What to look for

Shakes in short bursts and pauses to listen before shaking again.

A tip

Check every lid is twisted on tight and taped before handing bottles over, and check again halfway through.

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