Rainsticks

November is National Native American Heritage Month.  We honored the month by making rainsticks in First Friday Art Club.  Using a tutorial from The Imagination Tree, cardboard mailing tubes, finish nails, rice and beans, and LOTS of colorful duct tape, the library community room was a percussive auditorium for the afternoon with 19 happy musicians.

After searching many vendors, Staples had the best deal on a case of Kraft Mailing Tubes. End caps were included to secure the internal ingredients of the rainsticks at no extra cost. Library colleagues lent hammers for the project and I had a bulk of duct tape rolls left over from projects long past.  I purchased more than enough nails, rice and beans to host another program.  I even got more patterned duct tape, because you just never know what the kids will desire.

Tap nails into the tube all the way around and down

Using a hammer was fun for all of the students.  I decided that if a toddler made the project from Imagination Tree tutorial, my tween/ teen students could do the same!  The sound of 12 hammers (<<the most I could gather) going at once made me think of a roofing project inside the library.

After the nails, add duct tape

Once the nails were in, duct tape was used to decorate the tubes, but also acted as a protective layer to keep the nails in place.  Adding the end caps sealed one of the tube's ends.  Then students added rice and/or beans to get a particular sound quality.  The lightly filled tubes sounded better to my ear.  The beans sounded especially lovely in combination with the rice.

Take time to seal in the nails

Despite the variety of duct tapes, there always seemed to be a halted student.  Whenever I asked what they needed, it turned out to be GOLD DUCT TAPE!  For some reason the gold duct tape had all the power in this class.  

Gold for Greatness

One student mentioned that "Gold was for Greatness."  I would have opted for any other color rather than wait for the coveted gold duct tape, but I'm a loner.  These kids proved patience, respect and teamwork in waiting for that special hue.  I respect their process!

    

   

  
Although this program is for tweens and teens, there were 3 younger (8 years) brothers, 2 mom helpers, an adult who did not mind the age difference and a very endearing 3 year old. This project is suitable for all ages, with a little guidance for the younger side of life.  Once the camera emerge, this little character bumped right into frame to show off his creation.

This project rounded out the year of First Friday Art Club.  Our next creative adventure will be in December for Make and Bake Gifts.  The class will combine Teen Cooking Club and First Friday Art Club to create gifts for the holiday season. 

Join us for a joyous time.

Thanks for visiting.

See you in 2017!!!