Elementary School Resource

Make Your Own Rain Stick by Exploratorium

In this activity, students will follow the steps to create a rain stick. The rain stick is a musical instrument from South America. Traditionally, rain sticks are made from the wood skeleton of a cactus. First, the thorns are pulled off and pushed back through the soft flesh of the cactus. Then the cactus is left in the sun to dry–with the thorns on the inside. Later, the hollow cactus is filled with small pebbles, and the ends are sealed with pieces of wood.

Related NY State Academic Standards: ARTS.M.E.2.1.B!

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