Black History Month Art Project: African Djembe Drum, Exit Slips, Art Sub Plans

Ready to teach a Black History Month art activity that’ll keep elementary art kids engaged? This African djembe drum art project will boost confidence and creativity. Kids will be intrigued by the community aspect of creating a single djembe drum. Moreover, they’ll enjoy painting their own drum!

And, it’ll help time-starved teachers like you create art lesson plans that connect art and music.

During this art project, your class will learn what’s required to create a drum, from cutting the logs to painting the designs. Use it to discuss African art and culture, as well as symbols and patterns in art. Students will create a djembe drum with tempera paint and construction paper using the step-by-step guide and PowerPoint.

Plan lessons for students about Black art history and art appreciation in a way that excites them. Finally feel confident in your art curriculum and be organized and prepared to teach art!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring for kids. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesn’t have to be a snoozer, though!

I’ve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this djembe drum art lesson. All will engage kids to create! Choose which way works best for your classes:

• Roll a dice game to add randomness to your student’s artwork
• “You Pick” idea worksheet for kids to choose their own elements
• Digital spinner wheels, so kids can randomly pick elements and you can integrate technology in the art room
• Printable dice template in case you have no dice
• Step-by-step picture directions to guide students through the art process
• Drawing practice worksheet, for kids who want to sketch out their ideas
• African djembe drum worksheet about how these drums are created by hand as well as the symbols painted on them
• “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet where students write about their art process
• Self-assessment worksheet so kids can think about how they performed during the project
• Art grading rubric which assesses expectations, craftsmanship, work habits, creativity, and clean-up
• 8 “I CAN” Statements aligned to the Studio Habits of Mind to use during instruction or post on your bulletin board
• 4 Art exit tickets with quick, thought-provoking prompts
• Art history coloring pages to keep kids inspired by African drumming and art outside of the art room

YOU WILL RECEIVE

• 1 Non-Editable Printable PDF (Djembe Drum Art Lesson)
• 1 Non-Editable PowerPoint
• 5 Digital Spinner Videos (downloadable, and links to them on Google Slides and YouTube)
• Paperless Google Drive Digital Resource
  

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great hands on activity that my students loved doing. Was a fun way to end our world drumming unit (and provided great material for a student work bulletin board too!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I used this resource as a sub lesson in the middle of a world music unit for 7th grade. We had been drumming using djembes in class, and my students loved creating their own! This was the perfect activity to leave for a sub and the drums turned out so well! I will definitely use this project again next time I teach world music.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am collaborating with other specials teachers on a world music project and this was a great way to incorporate music and art together. We learned about the music of Africa and the Djembe in music class and students loved completing this correlating project in art.

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Created by Amie Bentley, © Glitter Meets Glue Designs, LLC