All Resources

Rainsticks

In this activity, students discover how to simulate the sound of rain by making an ancient instrument called a rainstick.

Rainsticks are thought to originate in Latin America and the southern United States. People made them by drying a cactus (which is naturally hollow), and driving the needles into the cactus to smooth off its surface. The hollow cactus tube was then filled with beans or pebbles to simulate the noise of rain, and the ends were sealed.

In movies, sounds are often simulated since the real source is not available or are difficult to record "live," such as footsteps and falling rain.

"Foley artists" are people whose job is to make sure that the sounds in a movie are convincing. The Foley technique is named after Jack Foley, a sound editor for Universal Studios. Foleying is an excellent means of supplying the subtle sounds that production microphones often miss. The rustling of clothing, a squeak of a saddle when a rider mounts his horse, or the sound of falling rain give scenes a touch of realism.

Objectives

  • Describe the properties of sound.

Materials

  • Per Student:
    cardboard tube from gift wrap or paper towel roll
    6 strips of thin cardboard (e.g. cereal box)
    Two small pieces of paper to fit over the ends of the tube
    tape
    ¼ cup of rice
    2 tbsp of seeds, dried peas, popcorn, or lentils
    decorations (ribbons, markers, stickers)

Key Questions

  • What sound does the rainstick make when you turn it over?
  • What is happening inside the rainstick to create this sound?
  • What other types of materials could you put in the rainstick to make this noise?

What To Do

  1. Wrap one piece of paper over the end of the tube, folding the sides down and taping it firmly.
  2. Cut cardboard strips narrower than the tube (about 2.5 cm wide should work). Fold them back and forth like a fan.
  3. Insert the strips into the tube. The first one should fall to the bottom of the tube. Keep adding strips until they reach the top of the tube.
  4. Pour in ¼ cup of rice and 2 tbsp of seeds. Place the other circle of paper over the open end of the tube and tape in place.
  5. Decorate the tube with markers, paints, stickers, ribbon, etc.
  6. Tip the rain stick over and listen.

Extensions

  • Experiment with different amounts and types of seeds and rice. Which materials make the most noise? Which sound most like falling rain?
  • What is the largest size of object you can use inside a rainstick?
  • Use the rainstick as a percussion instrument, tapping and shaking the stick to a rhythm.

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.