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From Drum to Music: Sofia's Steel Pan Report

Add facts, definitions and details to a report draft.

Answer Key

Read Sofia's draft

Sofia is writing a report about an instrument in her school music room.

The Steel Pan

1The steel pan is a musical instrument made from a large steel drum. It comes from Trinidad and Tobago, an island country in the Caribbean Sea. Our school music room has three steel pans, and I wanted to learn more about them.

2A steel pan starts as an empty oil drum. A pan maker hammers the top of the drum into a shape like a wide bowl. Then the maker marks out small areas on the bowl. Each area plays a different note.

3To play the pan, a player hits the notes with two sticks. The sticks have rubber tips, so the sound is soft and ringing instead of loud and clanging. Small pans play high notes. Bigger pans play low notes.

4Many players join a steel band. A steel band is a group of musicians who play steel pans together. Some large steel bands have so many players that they fill a whole stage.

5The steel pan turns something old into something new. The next time you hear its bright sound, think of the drum it used to be.

How Sofia develops her topic

Answer each question about Sofia's draft.

1.
A definition tells what a word means. Which sentence is a definition?
  • A. Bigger pans play low notes, and small pans play high notes.
  • B. A steel band is a group of musicians who play steel pans together.
  • C. Our school music room has three steel pans for our class.
  • D. Then the maker marks out small areas on the bowl of the drum.
2.
Read paragraph 3 again. Underline the sentence that gives a detail about why the pan sounds soft.

To play the pan, a player hits the notes with two sticks.The sticks have rubber tips, so the sound is soft and ringing instead of loud and clanging.Small pans play high notes.Bigger pans play low notes.

3.
What does paragraph 2 mainly develop with facts?
  • A. where the steel pan comes from
  • B. how players hit the pan with sticks
  • C. how a steel pan is made
  • D. how many people play in a band
4.
Sofia found more notes. Sort each note into the paragraph it would develop.
The maker taps each note until it sounds just right.Players often stand while they play.Players can roll the sticks quickly to make a long note.For a high pan, the maker cuts away most of the drum's side.Some players learn songs just by listening to them.
How a pan is made (paragraph 2)How a pan is played (paragraph 3)
The maker taps each note until it sounds just right.
For a high pan, the maker cuts away most of the drum's side.
Players often stand while they play.
Players can roll the sticks quickly to make a long note.
Some players learn songs just by listening to them.
5.
Sofia's teacher says the sentence "Each area plays a different note" needs a detail after it. Which sentence adds the best detail?
  • A. Steel pans are really fun, and everyone should try one.
  • B. The music room at our school is right next to the gym.
  • C. Some kids in my class wish that we had more pans.
  • D. Smaller areas play higher notes than larger ones.
6.
Sofia wants to add one more fact to paragraph 4, about steel bands. Which fact fits best?
  • A. The top of the drum is shaped like a bowl.
  • B. Steel bands often play at big festivals.
  • C. Rubber can be made from the sap of trees.
  • D. My favorite song to play is about the sea.
7.
Sofia wants to define more music words. Write the word from the box that finishes each definition. Two words are not used.
Word bank: drum · tune · band · stick · note

A note is one musical sound, such as a high sound or a low sound.
To tune a pan means to make each area play the right sound.
A band is a group of musicians who play together.

Plan your own report

Choose a musical instrument you know, such as a piano, a guitar or a recorder. Plan how you will develop your topic.

8.
Definition: Write a sentence that tells what your instrument is.

A recorder is a wooden or plastic instrument that you play by blowing into one end.

9.
Fact: Write one fact about how your instrument is played.

You cover the holes on a recorder with your fingers to play different notes.

10.
Detail: Write a detail that tells more about your fact.

When you cover more holes, the recorder plays a lower note.