Project
Materials

Rainstick

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

A rainstick noise maker out of simple materials

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

You will use a hammer and nails to construct a musical instrument.

STEPS

STEP 1

Add the nails.
Hammer the nails into the tube in a spiral pattern or in a random pattern. Use your pencil to draw the spiral! » Avoid placing the nails in straight lines down the tube!

STEP 2

Add the noisemakers.
Firmly secure one of the endcaps to the tube (it's a good idea to glue it on!) » Pour your beans, rice, or pebbles into the tube. » Firmly secure the other end cap onto the tube.

STEP 3

Decorate!
Add tissue paper, pom poms, stickers, pipe cleaners, or any decorations you would like. » Tilt and shake your new rainstick to hear cool sounds!

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

Rainsticks are believed to have originated in Latin America. They were made by drying a cactus (which is naturally hollow), and driving the needles into the cactus. The hollow cactus tube was then filled with beans or pebbles. In our version, each time a dry bean or grain of raw rice hits a nail it makes a tiny click. The nail carries the vibration of the clicking sound to the cardboard tube, which acts to convey the sound into the air, just like the soundboard on a piano.

The clicks happen at random as the rice falls through the tube, just as raindrops make sounds at random times as they fall onto a roof.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Anytime you want to hear the soothing sound of the rain, turn this fun rainstick upside down and hear the noisemakers tinkle down!

Materials:

  • 1 Cardboard Tube
  • Pencil (optional)
  • 2 End Caps for the Tube
  • Nails that are almost as long as the Tube is wide
  • Beans, Rice, or Pebbles
  • Hammer
  • Glue
  • Tissue Paper (optional decoration)
  • Poms Poms (optional decoration)
  • Glitter (optional decoration)
  • Pipe Cleaners (optional decoration)
  • Stickers (optional decoration)

See More Projects in these topics:

Arts & Crafts Music

See More Projects from these themes:

The Canteen (Mess Hall and Recycling Station)
Maker Camp
Maker Camp is a do-it-yourself online resource to help leaders like you organize a summer camp that engages children in making. Our goal is to provide you and your campers with the inspiration and the helpful resources, along with many possible projects to fit a wide range of interests and abilities. The idea is to focus on making as a playful, social activity. Maker Camp provides enough support for anyone to get started. Making provides experiences that help children become self-directed learners and good problem-solvers.
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Please Note

Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Make Community, LLC, disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.

Maker Camp Project Standards

Based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. These standards provide goals for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art. The Anchor Standards include:
  1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
  2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
  3. Refine and complete artistic work.
  4. Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
  5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
  6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
  7. Perceive and analyze artistic work.
  8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
  9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
  10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
  11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
Please visit the website for specific details on how each anchor applies to each discipline.

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. Also see Standards with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art for Music.

NGSS K-2 Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
  • K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
  • K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS 3-5.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
  • 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS MS.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
  • MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
  • MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS HS.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
  • HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
  • HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
  • HS-ETS1-4. Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

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