How To Make A Rainstick

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Prepare the tube

Cut out two circles from a plastic bag, bigger than the ends of your tube. Place one piece over one end of the tube and wrap an elastic band over it to attach it. Make sure that the plastic is stretched tight. Then wrap a piece of masking tape around the edge of the plastic, sticking it to the tube. Then take off the elastic band.

Step 3: Add beans

Pour some dried beans, peas or lentils into the tube, use about a handful. Don't overfill it. The beans need enough room to move around to make the sound of rain. Put the other circle of plastic over the other end of the tube and secure it with an elastic band and masking tape as before, then remove the elastic band.

Step 4: Tissue Paper

Roll the tube up in tissue paper and cut the paper to size. You can make the tissue paper whatever colour you like, the brighter the better. Now put some glue along the tube and at both ends. Then stick the tissue paper to the tube, roll it up and glue it down at the end. Fold in the ends and stick them down, then trim off the excess.

Step 5: Decorate

Now decorate the rain stick however you wish with shiny stickers, pipe cleaners, feathers and goggle eyes. Native Chileans would have used whatever they could find to decorate their rain sticks, like natural dyes, coloured threads and feathers.

Step 6: Play

Your rain stick is now ready to play! Make the sound of rain by tilting it slightly and letting the contents slowly fall down the tube.
Or just shake it to create rhythms.