Musical Memory Matching Game

Pre-schoolers love to match things up. Where does the glove go? On my hand...of course!This Musical Memory Matching game takes things to the next level. It is suitable for the 3-4 year age group but is lots of fun for older children as it really gets them thinking and listening in a focussed manner. You may have to introduce the game in three sittings...first the instruments, then the pictures and then the actual matching game.Choose three different percussion instruments. These can be simple home made shakers, wooden spoons to tap together or even a milo tin tapped with a stainless steel serving spoon. If you have percussion instruments use these as well.Lay the three instruments out on a mat on the ground. Sit with your child and play the instruments one by one so they can hear what they sound like.Choose three different animal pictures. These can be from a picture book, printed online, or even hand drawn by you.Look at the animal pictures and discuss what they look like and which animals they are. Assign each animal one of the percussion sounds. For instance in Early Learning Music class we used animal masks and chose a lion, monkey and giraffe. We gave the giraffe the bell sound. The Lion had the tapping sticks sound. The egg shakers were for the monkey. The masks had long craft sticks attached to the back so they can be held up by a child.Shake the eggs and hold the monkey mask up at the same time. Explain that the egg shaker sound goes with the monkey in this game.Tap the sticks and hold the lion mask up. Explain as above.Ring the bells and hold the giraffe mask.Once you have played this simple, introductory part of the game a few times, extend the activity. Separate the pictures of the animals from the percussion instruments and see if your child can pick up the matching picture when they hear the chosen percussion sound. "Julie, I am going to play the bells. Can you show me the picture that goes with the bell sound?" Then swap and let your child choose an instrument while you listen and match the picture to the sound.Let me know how you go with this creative activity.