J E R R O D KU S Y K , DAV I D G A M B L E , P H I L DYC K

CROSS CURRICULAR USE OF ABORIGINAL DRUMS

THE DRUM BUILDING PROCESS

GRADE 11

• Canadian History – role, significance and variations among the different Aboriginal groups across Canada• Physics – controlling tone and amplitude of a

drum by changing the material used.• Industrial Arts – combine traditional and modern

building techniques in frame drum construction

CANADIAN HISTORY

• Aboriginal culture is rich and diverse; difficult to provide a thorough understanding in 1 semester.

• Grade 11 Canadian History curriculum has (finally) been updated• Thematic method (First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples)• Chronological method (First Peoples and Nouvelle-France)

• Enduring Understanding 1 – First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples have a long history in North America and their diverse and complex cultures continue to adapt.

• Learning Experience 1.1 - Who were the First Peoples and how did they structure their world?

CANADIAN HISTORY CONT’D

• Drumbeat represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth• Drums are used in 4 main categories:• Social• Personal• Healing• Ceremonial

• Types of Drums• West Coast – plank, log or box style (no animal hide)• Plains – branches formed into frames or hollowed logs; drumhead

of deer, bison or moose skin.• Central – water drums; hollowed logs with skin stretched across.

Water would be added or removed.• Arctic – Whale baleen or bone frames with a drumhead of deer,

caribou, seal skin or walrus intestines.

PHYSICS

• Grade 11 Physics has an entire cluster devoted to Sound and includes:• How its created• How it reacts with its environment• How the materials used affect it

• Drums create sound by having a thin membrane being stretched over a hollow structure.• The struck membrane causes vibrations, which

create pressure waves in the air (sound).

PHYSICS CONT’D

• Pressure (sound) wave characteristics describe the sound that is heard• Amplitude affects volume• Frequency affects the pitch

• S3P-1-17 Investigate to analyze and explain how sounds are produced, transmitted, and detected, using examples from nature and technology.• S3P-1-19 Design, construct (or assemble), test,

and demonstrate a technological device to produce, transmit, and/or control sound waves for a useful purpose.

DESIGN LOOP

INDUSTRIAL ARTS

• Aboriginal frame drum construction utilizes both traditional and modern building techniques. • Modern processes and techniques allow for more efficient

use of material and time.• Traditional techniques are utilized for the lacing and

application of the drumhead

• Incorporate the construction of these drums with a Canadian History and/or Physics unit to greatly increase the students understanding of key concepts.

INDUSTRIAL ARTS CONT’D

• IA11.WW1.1 – Identify common woods, their classification as hardwood or softwood, and their properties such as type, species, grain texture…• IA11.WW5.1 – Identify several common wood

joints such as butt, box, dado, dovetail, lap, mitre, mortise and tenon, rabbet, tongue and groove…• IA11.DD6.1 – Identify the common terms and

practices associated with product manufacturing drafting such as detail working drawings, assembly drawings, scale models, and prototypes.

RESOURCES

• Manitoba Education. (2010). Senior Years Industrial Arts. Manitoba. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/teched/ia_framework/glo.pdf

• Manitoba Education. (2011), Clusters and Learning Experiences, retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/history_gr11/gr11_clusters.html#cluster1

• “Modern Wood working”. By Willis H. Wagner and Clouis E. Kicklighter Rohahes Iain Phillips. (2010), Drum Culture, retrieved from http://www.native-drums.ca/index.php/Drumming/Culture?tp=a&bg=1&ln=e

• Teachings of the Drum, (2010),, retrieved from http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/Tribal%20Drum%20Teachings.htm

• “Technology Education: Safety Resource. By Rachel Baxter and Mary Lorenz”