Don’t you just love Spanish music? Well I know I do. Especially Mambo, Salsa, and Bomba! It’s in my blood. Bomba y Plene is favorite. It describes me a person. It’s a mixture of Spanish and African sounds. Whenever I hear it, I just imagine the maracas in my hands and my body just starts to move. I love seeing children dance to these beats too. Their tiny feet steping to the rhythm is one of the cutest things you could ever witness.
Oye como va mi ritmo
Bueno pa’ gozar, mulata
Oye como va mi ritmo
Bueno pa’ gozar mulata
Oye mulatita
Oye como va mi ritmo
Bueno pa’ gozar, mulata
Oye como va mi ritmo
Bueno pa’ gozar mulata
****Some of the links contained within this post may be from affiliates. If there are affiliate links on within this post, the links do not cost you anything extra at all. If you sign up or make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. For more info, please read my disclaimer.
Eso es!
I love Tito Puente! I mean, who doesn’t? Listening to his music makes me dance, makes my hips sway and makes me want to let down my hair and just groove! It’s just something about the way that Mambo music flows through me. Maybe its the African drums and Bomba or the Clave. Or, maybe it’s the timbales? (I mean, its African origins just cannot be denied). But whatever the reason, I love it and I love watching my children dance. Music and movement is not only great for my soul, but also that of my children. I think that both are crucial to a healthy learning enviroment for children and I think that children should get moving each day. They need time to dance just like they need time outside. Listening to Tito Puente’s music, the rhythm just takes over you. Go ahead, pick up your maracas. If you don’t have any, let’s go ahead and make some.
Now that Easter is over, I am sure that you have plenty of these little plastic eggs laying around. Don’t toss them out, let’s recycle them and use them to make our maracas. If you don’t have any lying around, go ahead and grab a bag from the store. They should be on super clearance at your local store chain.
I actually got this idea from Crayola.
Materials:
- Beads
- Model Magic® in different colors
- Plastic Eggs (one for each maraca, two for a set)
- Plastic Spoons (two per maraca, four for a set)
Pro tip: Find as many of the materials recycled as you can.
Here are the directions from Crayola:
1. Let’s make some music! Gather all the materials on your work surface. Open a plastic egg and put some beads inside it. Close the egg. Use a piece of masking tape around the center of the egg to make sure it stays closed.
2. Create the base of the maracas by placing the egg between two plastic spoons. The spoons will cradle the egg on either side. Use masking tape around the spoons and egg to hold it in place
3. Model Magic® time! Roll out a piece of modeling compound. Cover the egg part of the maraca with the modeling compound. Use your fingers to gently press the compound all around the egg so it is covered completely.
4. Add some flair to the maraca by using additional pieces of Model Magic to add dots, designs, swirls or other personal touches. Choose different colors and patterns to express your creativity!
5. Allow the modeling compound to dry overnight. The maracas will be ready to shake, rock and roll!
Carve out some time and play your favorite tunes. Have a salsa party and groove!
This is such a fun activity to do with your kids. Of course with smaller ones, you may want to go ahead and make the maracas for them. The beads may pose a choking hazard for little ones. Also, I recommend using different materials for the centers to add variation to the sound that the maracas make. You can try using rice, pasta, nuts, or another type of grain. Even pennies or paper clips make nice rhythms too. If you decide to make these, leave a comment and let me know how things go for you and your family or students!
And, clean up is pretty simple!
Here is a video of Tito Puente performing one of my favorites, Oye Como Va.
Hasta Pronto!
Please feel free to share your comments or suggestions! I would love to hear from you. If you enjoy reading my blog, make sure to sign up so that you can always be alerted for new posts, tips, and recipes. You can also find me at Wombology (A Safe Place for Women to Heal) and Being Mama Dot (Chronicles of a Homeschool Mom).
If you are a homeschool mom needing some new ideas and encouragement or if you are completely new to homeschooling and you are looking for ways to get started, click here to apply for a FREE Strategy and Brainstorming Session with ME! Let’s work together to get you to where you want to be!
Hi! I’m Kat aka Mama Dot! Nice to meet you. I’m a homeschooling mom of three boys. By day, I run a mom’s blog (Being Mama Dot) and subscription service (Wombology). In my downtime, I create resources for families homeschooling children of color at Our Learning Curve. I love coffee, reggaeton (music in Spanish), knitting, and reading. My favorite thing to do is to feel my feet in the sand. #beachbum. Currently, I am an MA/Ph.D. student in Africana and Latin American studies. When I am not in school, I spend my days running my online business and taking care of my little ones. Make sure to check out OLC’s Instagram, Twitter, or join us over at Facebook.