Engage your Primary with this common summer item! Pool noodles make the best singing time rhythm instruments! They are inexpensive, versatile and easy to implement into your singing time!
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Have you seen ideas floating around the singing time world that incorporates pool noodles? I’ve been wanting to jump IN the pool {see what I did there!?!} noodle band wagon for a long time and I finally am doing it!
I’ve known that summer is THE best time to make pool noodle rhythm instruments for singing time! You can find them at almost ANY store, for ANY size and ANY price!
Here’s how I prepped my pool noodles for singing time to create these colorful and fun rhythm instruments!
Purchase Pool Noodles
I purchased 3 50-inch pool noodles in various colors from Walmart. I didn’t go with the smallest or the biggest size, but chose the mid range size. You can also find them online anytime during the year here (Amazon affiliate link):
I’ve seen that the small, cheap ones (typically sold at the dollar store), make a big mess when you cut in to them. They leave small bits of foam everywhere until it eventually scratches off.
But these mid-grade ones from Walmart have had absolutely NO mess! And my 6 kids have been sanding away with them since I cut them all apart, haha!
But any pool noodle will work. I just recommend the ones with the hole in the middle as they are a little easier to cut.
Create Rhythm Instruments
To create rhythm instruments from the pool noodles, first cut them into 5 to 6 inch sections. Since my noodles were 50 inches long, I opted for 5 inches each so each noodle would give me 10 equal sections.
I measured 5 inches along the noodle using a Sharpie marker and a ruler:
My almost 10-year old daughter has become my biggest singing time helpers!!
Then she cut them using a kitchen bread knife on the markings.
After that, we sliced them in half
For my Primary of about approximately 25 kids, I purchased 3 pool noodles which gave me 30 sets (60 halves). Then I bagged them all in a kitchen garbage bag and tossed them in the Primary closet ;).
Using Pool Noodles in Singing Time
To use pool noodles in singing time, you can create rhythm patterns or simply tap them together to the beat. Make it as complicated or as simple as you like!
Here are a few terms that are frequently used with pool noodles as rhythm instruments:
- Swish/Slide: rub pool noodle halves together, opposite each other
- Tap/Click: clap the pool noodles together similar to symbols
- Pat/Patsch: pat tops of thighs using pool noodles
- Hold/Rest: hold pool noodles still in lap
Singing Time Ideas using Pool Noodles
Create rhythm patterns using the above terms. This is a pattern for Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd using pool noodles:
1st verse:
- Dear to the: slide
- Heart of the: slide
- Shepherd: click, click
- Dear are the: slide
- sheep of his: slide
- Fold: click, click
- Dear is the: slide
- love that he: slide
- Gives: click
- Them: click
- Dearer than: slide
- silver or: slide
- Gold: click, click
- Dear to the: slide
- Heart of the: slide
- Shepherd: click, click
- Dear are his: slide
- other lost: slide
- Sheep: click, click
- Over the: slide
- mountains he: slide
- Follows: click, click
- Over the: slide
- waters so: slide
- Deep: click, click
Chorus:
- Out in the: slide
- desert they: slide
- wander: click, click
- hungry and: slide
- helpless and: slide
- cold: click, click
- off to the: slide
- rescue he: slide
- hastens: click, click
- bringing them: slide
- back to the: slide
- fold: click, click
This full lesson plan is available on Singing Time To-Go PREMIUM.
Summer Scene Singing Time Idea
Check out this fun summer scene singing time idea HERE that incorporates pool noodles!
It’s also available for Singing Time To-Go BASIC or PREMIUM subscribers. Find out more about subscribing to Singing Time To-Go here:
How Do You Use Pool Noodles as Rhythm Instruments in Singing Time?
Leave your ideas, suggestions and thoughts in the comments! I’m still new to using pool noodles and can use all the help I can get!!
More Singing Time Supplies
Make sure to check out my full list of singing time supplies HERE.
2 thoughts on “Pool Noodles Singing Time Rhythm Instruments”
I’ve seen chair drumming with pool noodles and have wanted to do this for a wKhile. My storage areas are now at a premium so I haven’t jumped into this yet. You would need your noodles to be 10 to 12 inches long and have the kids use them as drum sticks on the back of their chairs and clicking them together. It looks like a lot of fun to me and with some rules and encouragement, chaos could be kept to a minimum. Depending on your Primary size.
Hi Karen!
I’ve never heard of chair drumming but that sounds like so much fun! I’m definitely going to save this idea and try to incorporate it! As for storage, I utilize the space in our church closet because my little house can’t hold all this stuff I’ve accumulated over the years, haha! Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it!!
~Camille