Make some gobbles
Make turkey gobble sounds using a homemade kazoo from a paper cup, straw, and rubber band to explore sound and vibration.
Step-by-step guide to make some gobbles
Step 1
Gather all your materials and put them on a clear table or floor space.
Step 2
Cut the tissue paper into a square about as wide as the cup opening.
Step 3
Stretch the tissue paper tightly over the open top of the cup.
Step 4
Secure the tissue paper with the rubber band wrapped around the cup rim.
Step 5
Use scissors to make a small hole in the very center of the bottom of the cup.
Step 6
Push the straw through the hole so about one inch of straw is inside the cup and a few inches stick out.
Step 7
Press the tissue and the cup around the straw on the outside to make a snug seal.
Step 8
Put your lips around the straw outside the cup.
Step 9
Hum a single steady note into the straw while keeping your lips relaxed.
Step 10
Try humming higher and lower to hear different gobble sounds from the vibrating tissue.
Step 11
Slide the rubber band a little to make the tissue tighter or looser to change the sound.
Step 12
Hum into the straw again to compare how the tighter or looser tissue changes the gobble.
Step 13
Share your finished kazoo gobble creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have tissue paper or a disposable cup?
If you don't have tissue paper use a coffee filter, single-ply paper towel, or napkin and substitute the cup with a small yogurt container or paper cup, then follow the step to stretch the paper over the open top and secure with the rubber band.
Why isn't my gobble making sound and how do I fix it?
If you get no gobble, make sure the hole in the bottom of the cup is only big enough for the straw (step 5), that the straw is pushed through snugly and the tissue is pressed tight around it (step 6), and try tightening the rubber band (step 11) and humming a steady note (step 9).
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older children?
For younger kids have an adult pre-cut the tissue and pre-poke the hole and handle the scissors while older children can do the cutting, make the hole themselves, and experiment with sliding the rubber band tighter or looser (steps 2, 5, and 11).
What are easy ways to personalize or extend the kazoo gobble activity?
Decorate or paint the cup before you start, try different straw lengths or wider straws and different tissue thicknesses, and then hum to compare how each change affects the gobble sound (steps 1, 2, 5, 11, and 12).
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Facts about sound and vibration
🧪 Changing the straw length, cup size, or how hard you hum changes the pitch and tone — so you can make high or low gobbles!
🎶 Kazoos are membranophones — they turn your voice into a buzzing instrument by making a tiny membrane vibrate.
🦃 Only male turkeys (toms) gobble loudly to attract mates and warn rivals; hens usually make clucks and purrs.
🔊 Sound is made by vibrations — humans can typically hear sounds between about 20 and 20,000 vibrations per second (Hz).
🥤 You can build a working kazoo using just a paper cup, a straw, and a rubber band — perfect for a quick DIY instrument!
How to make turkey gobble sounds with a paper cup kazoo
Materials needed for a homemade paper cup kazoo
What ages is the paper cup kazoo activity suitable for?
Safety tips for making and using a homemade kazoo
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