* Rain Shakers *

I don't know about you, but I love the way the rain sounds against a roof top. I chose this activity to do with the children so they could create their own calming music.

What You Will Need

Colored construction paper, rubber bands, tape, scissors, paper towel roll, beads or rice, and stickers, markers, crayons, etc.

Start off by helping the child take the paper around the roll and then tape it. Take another colored construction paper an fold it over the bottom and wrap the rubber band around it for the child.

After you do that turn it back on its bottom. Give the child some of the beads and let them drop them into the tube until they are all in the tube.

Fold another piece of paper over the top and wrap another rubber band around the tube for the child. Once that is done let them decorate the tube with stickers, crayons, markers, etc.

Once they are done decorating their rain shakers it is time to test them out. Some sounded like slow rain showers and others sounded like a heavy rain storm. There is nothing like an afternoon rain dance!!! 

This activity turned out really good. I wouldn't change anything about this activity but I would extend it by maybe making a lesson on musical instruments and making different types of instruments. The children stayed engaged from beginning to end. Some decorated theirs with marker, some with stickers, and some with both. They created their very own music instrument. They shook them as they danced in the rain. Making these rain shakers give the children creativity and imagination. Also it lets them build their fine motor skills.