Sing-Along with the LMN's Theme Song
Learn and perform the LMN theme song, make simple rhythm instruments from household items, and practice singing melody, rhythm, and teamwork.
About this activity
Learn and perform the LMN theme song, make simple rhythm instruments from household items, and practice singing melody, rhythm, and teamwork.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Clear a workspace and put all your materials on the table so you can see everything.
- 2
Step 2
Pour a small handful of dried beans or rice onto one paper plate.
- 3
Step 3
Put the second paper plate on top of the plate with the beans so the beans are between them.
- 4
Step 4
Tape all the way around the edge of the two plates to seal the beans inside and make a shaker.
- 5
Step 5
Decorate your shaker using colouring materials to make it bright and fun.
- 6
Step 6
Stretch one rubber band around the paper towel roll so it goes across the middle.
- 7
Step 7
Add one or two more rubber bands spaced apart on the paper towel roll for different sounds.
- 8
Step 8
Pluck each rubber band once to hear how each one sounds.
- 9
Step 9
Move a rubber band closer or farther to change its pitch until you like the sound.
- 10
Step 10
Count aloud to four and shake your shaker on each count to make a steady beat.
- 11
Step 11
Ask an adult or friend to sing the LMN theme song slowly while you listen carefully to the melody.
- 12
Step 12
Sing the melody out loud while tapping your shaker on the beat to match rhythm and tune.
- 13
Step 13
Invite a friend or family member to join you and decide who will play which instrument.
- 14
Step 14
Rehearse the LMN theme song together with your instruments three times to get ready.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished performance and instruments on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you run a Sing-Along with the LMN theme song?
Start by learning the LMN theme song line by line: listen to a recording, read the lyrics, and sing slowly with your child. Make simple rhythm instruments from household items (shakers, tambourines, cardboard guitars). Teach melody and rhythm separately—clap the beat, hum the tune—then combine. Assign roles (lead singer, instrument players, conductor) and rehearse in short sessions. Finish with a family performance or video to celebrate teamwork and confidence.
What materials do I need to make rhythm instruments for the LMN sing-along?
You'll need common household materials: empty plastic bottles or containers for shakers, rice or dried beans to fill them, rubber bands and a shoe box to make a simple guitar, wooden spoons or metal lids for rhythm, tape and scissors, markers for decorating, and a paper towel tube for a kazoo. Also have the song lyrics or a recording on a phone or tablet. Substitute items as needed and supervise when cutting or using small parts.
What ages is this LMN theme song sing-along suitable for?
This sing-along works well for children ages 3–10. Preschoolers (3–5) enjoy simple rhythm playing and call-and-response singing with adult guidance. Early elementary kids (6–8) can learn melody, follow simple instrument parts, and take turns leading. Older kids (9–10) can arrange harmonies, choreograph movement, and manage small group roles. Adjust complexity, give short practice sessions, and supervise young children when handling small materials or scissors.
What are the benefits and safety tips for the LMN theme song sing-along?
Benefits include improved pitch, rhythm, listening, cooperation, and stage confidence. Making instruments boosts creativity and fine motor skills. For safety, use blunt scissors, avoid small parts for very young children, and secure bottle lids with tape. Variation ideas: turn it into a themed concert with costumes, add movement by marching to the beat, or create layered arrangements where different groups play distinct rhythms for an ensemble effect.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of paper plates or dried beans/rice if we don't have them?
Use a clean small plastic container with a secure lid or two sturdy disposable cups taped together to hold dried pasta, coins, or beads in place of the paper-plate shaker and substitute dried beans/rice with dried pasta, coins, or beads for different sounds.
My shaker is leaking or the rubber bands keep slipping off—how do I fix that?
If the shaker leaks, press the two plates together firmly and add extra tape all the way around the edge from step 3 (or staple with adult help), and if bands slip, make small notches in the paper towel roll or place a short strip of tape under each band to hold it in place.
How can I change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have an adult pre-seal the shaker and use larger fillers like pasta while the child counts to four and shakes, and for older kids add more rubber bands, experiment moving bands to change pitch in step 7, and arrange parts to rehearse the LMN theme together in steps 12–14.
How can we personalize or make the performance more interesting after we rehearse?
Try filling shakers with different materials for varied timbre, add extra rubber bands on the paper towel roll for harmony, decorate each instrument differently in step 4, and record or share your performance on DIY.org as in step 15.