World Culture Activity Video: Chile

Create the soothing sound of rain with a rainstick!

Activity best for children age 3 and up

Chile is a country in South America, occupying a long narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Large parts of Chile are covered by mountains and Chile is home to the world’s largest driest desert: the Atacama Desert. The Atacama Desert is the world’s driest desert and is where rainsticks are believed to have originated. Rainsticks were made from long, hollow cactus tubes that were dried in the sun. Then the spikes were removed and driven back into the cactus just like nails. Small pebbles were placed inside the cactus and the ends of the cactus were sealed. A sound like falling rain was made as the rainstick was turned. It is believed that the rainsticks were used by the indigenous farming tribes in the very arid, or dry, climate with the hopes of calling for rain to water and grow their crops. 

Materials You’ll Need:

1 cardboard tube 

2 cardboard circles that will overlap the cardboard tube

Markers (assorted colors)

Aluminum foil cut the same length of the tube

Tape

1/4 cup popcorn, beans or rice

Twine, string or ribbon

Directions

STEP 1
Use markers to decorate your tube.

Image 9 16 20 At 8.21 AM

STEP 2
Take the foil and roll it up. Twist it up so it looks like a skinny “S” and slide it into the tube. Tape the ends of the foil to the ends of the tube.

Image 9 16 20 At 8.21 AM (1)

STEP 3
Place one of the cardboard circles over the end of your tube and press the edges down. Tape it down so that it is firm and will not let any of the rice or beans fall out.

Image 9 16 20 At 8.21 AM (3)

STEP 4
Pour some of the popcorn, beans, or rice into the tube and seal the other end in the same way. Your rain stick will sound different depending on what you fill it with.

Image 9 16 20 At 8.21 AM (4)

STEP 5
Use the twine, ribbon, or string at one end to decorate your Chilean rainstick.

Image 9 16 20 At 8.22 AM