The JumpStart Blog

Do you love the calming sound of rain falling on your roof during a grey day? Well, you don’t have to wait for clouds to roll in overhead anymore – you can make it rain anytime you want with your very own rain stick!

Original, historic rain sticks were all similarly-made from materials found in nature by many different cultures. Cacti were often used for rain sticks, but do not worry; we will not put you in a prickly situation! People would hollow a cactus out, pull off the thorns, pierce them into the cactus body, and then leave the cactus to dry out in the sun. When the cactus was dried out, it would be filled with small pebbles, and then sealed at the open end. When the cactus was turned over, the stones would tumble down, hitting the thorns to bounce against each other and the inner wall of the echoing cactus, making the sound of rain! Some rain sticks were used in periods of drought in an attempt to bring rain to a dry land. They could also be used for a subtle, musical effect! Now you can help your child become their own rain-maker!

You will need:

• A sturdy cardboard tube (you can use a mailing tube, fabric tube, etc)
• 22 gauge hobby wire (About 1 roll. Make sure each piece is cut into 30 cm lengths!)
• Dry beans and rice, or small pebbles (about 1-1.5 cups)
• Any decorations you might want to put on! (Wrapping paper, feathers, stickers, markers to draw, etc)
• Clear packing tape
• Scissors
• Ruler

How to make your rain stick:

1. Cut a few pieces of tape to layer across one end of the tube. You need to close this side of the tube up! 3 or 4 layers of tape should do it.
2. Next, roll and crumple up each 30 cm piece of the wire into a loose ball shape. Using your ruler, push each ball into the tube until the tube is full.
3. Pour your beans, rice, or pebbles into the tube.
4. Seal the open end of the tube up with tape just like you did in step 1.
5. Time to decorate! Have your artist draw, stick, glue or whatever else they want to do to make their rain stick as unique and special as possible.

Once your rain stick is all put together, just turn it upside down, and you should hear the calming sound of rain. Don’t blame us if, after all the fun you and your child have with this instrument, your rain stick brings in a real rain storm!

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