How to Make a Rain Stick for Earth Day

Traditional rain sticks are made out of dead cacti, with tiny pebbles placed inside to recreate the gentle sound of rain. These instruments have been used for centuries by Native American cultures during ritual prayers for rain. Making a rain stick is a fun way to celebrate Earth Day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard tube, such as paper towel tube, poster tube or mailing tube
• Brown construction paper or brown paper bag
• Scissors
• White craft glue
• Aluminum foil
• Unpopped popcorn, seeds, dry rice or beans
• Acrylic paint, crayons or colorful markers
• Varnish (optional)

1. Make end caps for your Earth Day rain stick by tracing around the end of your tube on a piece of brown construction paper or a brown paper bag. Draw another, larger circle around the first circle. Draw several lines crossways (like spokes) between the 2 circles, and cut around the larger circle. Do this twice, and set the second one aside.

2. Spread some white craft glue between the 2 circles and glue the cap securely over the end of the rain stick.

3. Cut 2 pieces of aluminum foil about 7 inches wide and approximately one-and-a-half times the length of the cardboard tube. Crush the foil strips into long, thin shapes, and then twist them into spring shapes. Put the foil springs into the tube.

4. Put some unpopped popcorn, seeds, dry rice or beans into the tube and glue on the second end cap. Your tube should only be about one-eighth full. Experiment with different types and amounts of beans or seeds and listen to the difference in sounds.

5. Cover the rain stick with brown construction paper or brown paper from a paper bag. Decorate the rain stick with rainforest designs such as frogs, leaves, flowers or butterflies. Use acrylic paint, markers, crayons, or designs cut from construction paper.

6. Seal the Earth Day rain stick with varnish, if desired, and allow it to dry.