Each year our 2nd graders at Sprague School explore Pilgrims and Native American Culture. As an extension, Mrs. Feld, our art teacher, teaches the children to make rattles in the Native American tradition. Once the rattles are complete, we use them in the music class as we explore Native American music. Flutes, drums and rattles are the main types of instruments used and you will see the children playing around a gathering drum, and sharing their rattles. Another bonus to this activity is the opportunity to play the rattles one by one and listen to how they are they same and how they are different, and discuss why. This unit addresses all four areas of the National Standards for Music -create, perform, respond and connect.