Monday, August 25, 2008

Music Craft: Rainstick

Rainstick

A rainstick is a long hallow tube filled with beads or beans, and has small pins arranged helically inside. Rainsticks were originally made to create the sound of a rain storm and it was believed that they could bring rainstorms.

A rainstick is held at a 45 degree angle allowing the beads to fall gradually to create the sound of falling rain. Rainsticks can also be tapped to make a more controlled sound and can be used as a shaker to create percussive rhythms. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainstick)

Rainstick Craft:


Materials Needed:

1. Aluminum foil
2. Glue
3. Scissors
4. Crayons
5. Paper towel roll
6. Small dried beans










Instructions:

1. Trace two circles around the paper towel roll on construction paper (as seen in photo).











2. Draw a bigger circle around each circle just drawn (as seen in photo).




3. Draw spokes connecting the inner and outer circle (as seen in photo).






4. Cut out the circles along the outer circle lines and cut along each spoke up to the inner circle line.

5. Cup one circle along inner circle line and glue it on to one end of the paper towel roll.













6. Cut out 2 pieces of aluminum foil 6 inches wide, and 18 inches long. Twist the aluminum pieces into a spring shape (Most foil rolls are the perfect width when cut in half).


7. Put the aluminum springs into the roll.











8. Pour beans into the roll.



9. Cap off the other end with the other circle as done in step 5.



10. Decorate the tube as desired.










Have fun making rain!

This craft idea was from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ .

I am participating in Family Moment Monday.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good....thanks for the instructions. We are going to do this one!

A.D. McClish said...

I know my son will enjoy making--and playing with--this craft! I'm doing homeschooling for his preschool (along with my nephew) and my sister-in-law and I wanted to include music in the lessons. This is one way we can teach them about music that they will really enjoy. :)

Mandy said...

I think I will give this a try today with my little girl! I am always looking for craft projects to do with my kids, so thank you!

Anonymous said...

what a great idea!! I just LOVE your blog.

Lyndsie Miles said...

What an awesome idea! We always try to find something to do with our paper towel rolls... and I love rainsticks! Great idea!

Lynn said...

What a fun idea, I can't wait to try it with my boys!

amanda said...

oh how i love rain sticks!!

we used to teach a unit on australia and always would make these.

mormonhermitmom said...

That's a new one to me. Sounds great!

Claremont First Ward said...

I remember these from Elementary school!

Marie N. said...

I remember seeing these in museum stores. I could never justify the price. Homemade is great!

Andrea said...

This is something even my 6 month old will enjoy playing with! Thanks!

Leah said...

very fun! I saw someone, one time, hyping up this craft, but they used little pins pushed through the tube for the beans to make contact with, and I was horrified someone thought it was okay to give a kid a craft, where the finished product was full of a bunch of pins (if they squeezed too hard the pins could push all the way through and poke someone!). I love that your project is not only SAFE as a finished product, but fun to make and play with as well.

Stacy said...

Another great craft project. Thanks!

Rosemary said...

I love it. and it's all simple household materials.

cathy said...

GREAT craft! My kids are going to love this one!

Mozi Esme said...

I love this idea - it's on my list to try!

Anonymous said...

Amanda. If you taught your class that rainsticks are Australian you have been misinforming them!

Cee Two said...

Not necessarily. Although rain makers are thought to have originated in South America/Chile area, similar rain makers have been used by Australian aboriginals for thousands of years.

Anonymous said...

Can you do this with rice too instead of beans