It's Water-Wise Wednesday with Frannie the Fish! {Rain Sticks}

Frannie is so excited that spring is finally here!  She loves the rainstorms that bring about the flowers and trees blooming.  Frannie thought about how important rain is to everyone everywhere and remembered hearing about musical instruments that ancient cultures made called rain sticks.  It is believed rain sticks were used to bring on rainstorms or to celebrate rain.

To make a traditional rain stick, dried cacti or other hollow material such as bamboo might be used.  The hollow tube was pierced with the cactus needles or other pegs and then filled with pebbles, shells, and/or dried beans.  The rattle of the loose materials inside the hollow tube creates the sound of falling rain.  Frannie wants to celebrate rain by making her own rain stick!  She wants you to make one too!

Supplies:

• Empty paper towel tube or mailing tube
• Toothpicks or nails
• Beans, rice, beads, pebbles, or other small hard materials
• Tin foil or sturdy plastic
• Various craft supplies: scissors, tape, glue, markers, paint, glitter, string or yarn, beans, feathers, etc.

Instructions:

1.  Cover and secure one end of the tube with the tin foil or plastic

2.  Use toothpicks or nails to puncture the tube multiple times.  Break off the ends of the toothpicks sticking out to ensure no sharp edges.  Ensure the nails are not sticking out.

3.  Fill the tube with a handful of rice, beans, etc.

4.  Cover and secure the other end of the tube

5.  Decorate the tube

Share photos of you or your troop with your rain sticks here!