If you want to prepare some Montessori materials for a homeschool or preschool, a sensorial material that can be created easily and inexpensively is a set of sound cylinders. Last week, I wrote about another great DIY project: DIY Montessori smelling bottles.
DIY Montessori Sound Cylinders
I had a DIY sound activity as the activity of the week in April with a cute Montessori-inspired Easter egg sound set. You can create a different sound set for year-round use for preschoolers in any environment.
DIY Sound Bottles (Photo from A Bohemian Education)
A Bohemian Education (post no longer available) used jars with lids and wrapped the jars in red and blue fabric to create sound bottles.
Sound Boxes (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Counting Coconuts purchased sound boxes. (The photo shows what the purchased materials would look like.) When writing about Montessori materials recently, Mari-Ann said she wishes she would have created her own.
There are a number of other items you can use to create your own sound boxes (or basket):
Maybe Montessori and Create both used a papier mache box set from Joann’s to create sound cylinders.
Carrots Are Orange used small cardboard jewelry boxes.
Sound Cylinders Using Containers from Cookie Decorating Sprinkles (Photo from Explore and Express)
Explore and Express used containers from cookie decorating sprinkles.
A Handmade Childhood used black film canisters to make sound cylinders.
DIY Sound Cylinders Made from Chocolate Pudding Containers (Photo from Kingdom of the Pink Princesses)
Kingdom of the Pink Princesses used chocolate pudding containers.
DIY Sound Bottles (Photo from Montessori MOMents)
Montessori MOMents used drinkable yogurt bottles.
Shannon’s Sharings used two different brands of drinkable yogurt bottles, which were the same except for different color lids.
Montessori Primary Guide has directions for presenting sound boxes.
Introductory Sound Activities
Montessori-Inspired Easter Egg Sound Shakers for Babies and Toddlers
I have Montessori-inspired Easter egg sound shakers for babies and toddlers.
Simple Sound Lesson (Photo from To the Lesson!)
To the Lesson! has an introductory sound activity that’s wonderful as an activity before the sound cylinders to help with listening skills and to prepare children for other work with sensorial and science activities.
Check out my post on “How to Make Your Own Montessori Materials” with resources for making lots of other Montessori materials.
I’d love to hear about your DIY sound activities! 🙂
I just found your website chalk-full of your wonderful Montessori inspired ideas shared here. So glad to have found you!
Thanks so much for your kind comment! I’ll look forward to getting to know you! 🙂
Sound cylinders are one of the best materials to make. They are so easy and it saves a lot of money. We love our handmade sound cylinders from upcycled yogurt containers. Thanks for the wonderful post.
Thanks, Lori! I think it’s wonderful that sound cylinders can be made in so many different ways. I found and added your link and photo (love the concentration!). It’s great to be able to show so many different options for easily creating a Montessori material! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I always look forward to your creative ideas and links.
Thanks so much! I love finding these great ideas online! 🙂
Now….to go get my supplies (around the house) and make these…they would make great gifts!
Thanks for your comment, Rebecca! That’s a wonderful idea … they would make great gifts! 🙂
I made ours out of baby food jars because, at the time, I had oodles of them and no idea what to do with them. I dont recommend the jars. One of ours broke a few weeks ago. Yes, it did last well over a year, but I still plan to replace them with a plastic medium!
Thanks for your comment! That’s a good point – especially with younger preschoolers. It sounds like the bottles A Bohemian Education found at IKEA were a heavier glass, which would work well. Plastic bottles or cylinders would definitely work even for very young preschoolers. 🙂
I love all of the creative ways to make sound games. We use plastic eggs in the spring, but I think I’ll work on putting together a year round set.
Thanks for your comment, Jill! I really love having sound eggs in the spring and a year-round version – adds to the interest! 🙂
We use plastic eggs here! They are cheap and can be easily switched out for different sounds. 🙂
Plastic eggs are great for that, aren’t they?! … easy, inexpensive, and especially fun in the spring! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this great roundup of ways to create sound cylinders on this week’s Discover & Explore linky!