You can make a rainstick that mimics the sound of falling rain by sealing seeds or rice inside a decorated cardboard tube. Tipping it slowly makes the filler cascade down with a soft rushing sound.
This is an easy sensory project that even young children can help with, and it pairs naturally with a unit on world cultures. See our world cultures section for more, or browse other easy builds on our crafts page.
What you need
- A heavy cardboard tube (a mailing tube or a thick carpet tube works well)
- End caps or duct tape to seal the ends
- Seeds, dried rice, small pebbles, or another dry filler
- Paper or paint to decorate the tube
Steps
- Decorate the tube first, using paint or wrapping it in paper.
- Seal one end tightly with an end cap or several layers of duct tape.
- Pour in a few handfuls of your filler material.
- Seal the second end the same way.
- Turn the tube slowly end over end and listen to the sound. Try different fillers or a longer tube to hear how the sound changes.
Safety
Small seeds, rice, and pebbles are choking hazards for children under about 3, so an adult should fill and seal the tube and check that both ends are secure before handing it to a young child. Supervise scissors or tape cutting for younger kids as well.
Once it is sealed, use the rainstick as a simple instrument alongside other hands-on projects from our crafts page.