A Fun Green Music and Art Project

Making an Amazon rainstick out of recyclable materials is a fun and easy art project. The traditional rainstick is made out of dried-out cactus. The inside of the rainstick is filled with seeds, rocks, or beans which travel along the inside grooves of the cactus.

Origins for the rainstick are varied, but according to the Native Village.org most experts agree that the rainstick developed in South America then traveled north and throughout the world through various music groups, often being used as a symbol of the Amazon rainforest and nature.

What your will need to make an Amazon Rainstick

You will need the following art supplies to make the Amazon rainstick: a recyclable paper towel tube, rubber bands, 8" squares of scrap fabric, art paint, brushes, glue, and aluminum foil. The rainstick can be filled with beads, beans, seeds, rice, or small rocks.

Making the Amazon Rainstick

Each student will need a recyclable paper towel tube. Use the art paints to decorate the paper towel tubes with different designs. You will need to wait for the art paint to dry. Using kid-friendly non-toxic tempura paint is often best and dries quicker. Acrylic art paint also dries quickly but is not washable.

Each student will need a long piece of aluminum foil. First the student needs to take their aluminum foil and roll it into a long strand. Then they must coil the strand tightly. Each recyclable paper towel tube will need at least three to six aluminum coils inside to fill the tube.

Once each student has made several aluminum foil coils and the recyclable paper towel tubes are dry, each student must take a fabric square and pour glue on one side of the fabric. Each student needs to pour enough glue to make sure that the fabric sticks to the recyclable paper towel tubes. Close one end of the paper towel tube with the fabric. Use right rubber bands to secure the fabric onto the paper towel tube.

Fill the paper towel tube with the aluminum coils. Once the paper towel tube is full of coils, pour about 3/4 of a cup to 1 1/2 cups of the rice, seeds, or rocks into the recyclable paper towel tube.

Add glue to one side of the remaining fabric square and seal the open end of the paper towel tube. Use rubber bands to secure the fabric on the new music rainstick.

Music and the Amazon Rainstick

After each student has completed their Amazon rainstick, they can enjoy playing fun music games with their new music instruments.

Simulate a rainforest rainstorm by having each student take turns pouring their music rainstick. Start with only a few of the students playing their music rainstick, then add more and more Amazon rainsticks, until the entire room sounds like a wash of rain has taken over the rainforest.

Play different rainforest nature albums and Andean music. Have your music class dance and play along with the music and Amazon nature sounds.

Sources:
Gina Laczko, "Rainsticks", Native Village.org