Make Your Own Rainstick

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, leaners build their very own rainsticks, an instrument filled with pebbles and seeds that create sounds like falling rain. Save costs by using material found around the home. Includes step-by-step instructions with diagrams, an explanation, and a helpful how-to video. Try this with young learners for some musical fun.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • A long cardboard tube that is about 1 1/2–2 inches (4–5 centimeters) in diameter (the cardboard tube from a roll of wrapping paper works well or you can tape two or three paper-towel rolls together; you can also use a narrow poster tube)
  • Marker (any color)
  • About forty 1-inch (2.5-cm) nails for every 12 inches (30 cm) of tube
  • Masking or packing tape
  • Two 3 x 5 index cards (or plastic end caps if you are using a poster tube)
  • Scissors
  • A few handfuls of raw rice or small dry beans, or a mix of such things

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Sound
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Invention and Innovation

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Music
  • Performing Arts

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Related Video