How to Make a Rain Stick With Foil & Rice
Created in Northern Chile and Peru, the rain stick was a musical instrument used during times of drought. These natives believed using the rain stick would bring rain in the dry seasons. Teaching your students a lesson in history as well as art can be done by making rain sticks as a project in your class. It requires a few simple items and gives the children the ability to be creative.
Things You'll Need
- Paper towel tube
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Aluminum foil
- Rice
- Markers
- Crayons
- Paint
- Stickers
Instructions
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1
Set the paper towel tube upright on a piece of construction paper and trace around the end to create a circle. Draw a larger circle around it that is about an inch or so bigger. Repeat these steps to create two ends.
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2
Cut out the circles and squeeze a line of glue around the first circle. Glue it to the bottom of the paper towel tube and let it sit to dry. Once it is dry, squeeze another line of glue around the remaining paper and press it along the bottom of the tube so it sticks.
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3
Rip off a piece of aluminum foil that is about two times the length of the paper towel tube. Roll it between your palms to make the foil long and thin.
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4
Wrap the foil around the tube to create a spiral, and then carefully pull it off the tube. Place the foil spiral inside the tube and drop in some dried grains of rice. The tube should be about 10 percent full of rice.
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5
Glue the other top to the end of the paper towel tube.
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6
Decorate your rain stick with markers, crayons or paint. If painting, use a smock to protect your clothing. Add on stickers if desired.
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