Music Resources for Primary Schools
Here at the Mobile Music School, we pride ourselves on providing top quality music resources for primary schools. These music resources for primary schools include lesson plans, fun activities and resources for the classroom, as well as some DIY ideas too. Today’s DIY activity combines music and art, and the great thing about this music resource is it can be done both at home and in school. This fun activity can easily be done with the family at home, so why not have a competition and see who can make the best rainstick!
What is a rainstick?
A rainstick is a long, hollow tube, filled with beads or beans. When the stick is upended, the beads fall to the other end of the tube, making a sound similar to rainfall. This instrument is used in South American and West African Music. The rainstick is traditionally made from natural items, such as cacti , bamboo sticks, or reeds. To make a traditional rain stick from a cactus, artisans remove the needles from the cactus, reinsert them into the flesh, and then dry the whole thing. Pebbles or dried beans are then poured into the stock and the ends are plugged up to hold them inside. The result is a percussion instrument.
What you will need:
- Wrapping paper/Kitchen roll tubes
- Cereal boxes
- Masking tape
- Dried beans, rice, popcorn kernels, peas etc.
- Crayons/Markers
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cover one end of the tube with masking tape, making sure it’s secure.
- Cut your cereal boxes into strips. Make sure they are thinner than your tube (about 1 inch wide should work). Then, fold the strips back and forth like a fan.
- Add your cardboard pieces into the tube. The tube should be full, but not stuffed with cardboard.
- Add your beans and grains to the tube.
- When your tube has been filled, cover and tape the open end closed
- Decorate! You can use crayons, markers, glitter glue, paint etc to decorate your rainstick however you’d like!
To learn more about our music resources for primary schools, contact us here.
