Watch these creative kids turn a paper tube into a beautiful instrument during my first 'One World, Many Stories' craft workshop at Curtis Memorial library. Rainsticks originated from Chile and are traditionally made with dried cactus that are spiked with thorns or small nails. Our rainsticks are child friendly and recycle paper tubes!


This was a bring your own paper tube activity. We found that rigid tubes work best and you get a more interesting rainfall sound from gift wrap length tubes.


The wonderful librarians assembled the necessary materials for each tube:
Aluminum foil (cut to the length of the tube).
1/3 cup of rice
2 rubber bands
Colored paper tape
Adhesive gems
5" x 5" wax paper and packing paper squares
Colorful yarn scraps

Some friends brought super long tubes!
We cut a length of foil to match the length of each tube. It was up to the kids and their parents to cut the foil lengthwise into three equal strips. The strips are crunched and then slid into the tube. Their purpose is to slow the traveling rice and resonate it's sound. If the foil is crunched too tightly they don't slow the rice and if they're left too wide the rice can't travel freely from one end of the tube to the other.

 Perfect crunching technique!
The next step is to decorate the paper tube with paper tape strips.

Sometimes little fingers need a little help.
We intentional purchased an assortment of sizes so thinner tape can be placed over thick tape.

In case you haven't had first hand experience, kids love tape!
Adhesive gemstones were applied to the blank areas (Oriental trading is a great source to buy these in bulk).

We supplied colorful yarn to over wrap the rubber bands.
Lay the paper square over the wax paper square and center it over the top of one of the ends. Use a rubber band to tightly wrap the paper over the top of the tube.We had colored yarn available to over wrap the rubber bands.


The rice was premeasured in 3oz paper cups, for easy pouring into the tube. Once you have one end covered you can pour in the rice.


Add a second paper covering over the end of the tube. Once the ends are secure you're ready to invert your rainstick and listen to the gentle sounds of pouring 'rain'.

Shoulder strap anyone?I'm starting think my library workshops are all powerful, it's been drizzling for two days now and there's no end in sight for the weekend.

Serious last minute adjustments.
If you missed this workshop (it maxed out at a hundred preregistered children) I'll be doing it again at the Freeport library on July 19th. Please be sure to call in a reservation.

His rainstick is taller than he is and check out that tassel!