Recycled Craft: Make a Rainstick
A rainstick is a long tube-like instrument that makes a sound like rain falling when it is turned over and over. It’s easy to make a kid-friendly rainstick out of a recycled paper towel roll and some items from your kitchen and craft room.
What you need to make a paper towel roll rainstick:
- A paper towel roll
- A sheet of paper
- A piece of aluminum foil
- A piece of plastic wrap
- Popcorn kernels or dry beans
- Tape
- Markers and/or stickers
How to make it:
1. Draw pictures on one side of a colored piece of paper (note, only about 1/3 of the end of the page will show once wrapped around the paper towel tube.)
2. Crumple up a long, thin piece of aluminum foil and insert it into the paper towel tube. The aluminum foil will act as the barrier to keep the beans or popcorn kernels moving through the tube at a slow rate, making the rainfall sound.
3. Put a doubled-up piece of plastic wrap over one end of the paper towel tube, and tape in place.
4. Pour a tablespoon of dry beans or popcorn kernels into the open end of the tube, then seal the end with a doubled-up piece of plastic wrap. Tape plastic wrap in place.
5. Tape decorated paper to the paper towel tube, then wrap around tube, securing end with tape.
6. Decorate tube as desired with tape or stickers.
Tip back and forth to hear the sweet sound of rainfall!
Heather Mann is the mother of four boys, and is constantly on the lookout for fun games, activities, and recipes to keep her busy boys, well, busy. She designs and shares clever crafts with a frugal twist at her site Dollar Store Crafts and ideas for being the best mom ever (on a budget) at Dollar Store Mom.