The Rainstick

By doing this experiment, you will learn that people have called for and welcomed rain as part of their lives. Rain is an essential part of life. Throughout time, people have welcomed rain, having experienced the consequence of drought. During dry periods without rain, different cultures have developed rituals that were believed to attract rainfall. The rainstick was used to serenade the gods so it might rain.

The materials that you will use are as follows:

• Cardboard tubes
• Tooth picks or similar narrow pieces of material
• White glue
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Earth tone watercolor paints
• Various kinds of dry seeds or pebbles
• A variety of natural materials
• A drill for drilling holes into cardboard tubes

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The procedure for building a rainstick is as follows:

1. Drill holes in the paper tube
2. Push toothpicks through the holes on both sides of the tube.
3. Cut off the excess length of toothpicks
4. Glue the remaining nubs and decorate with sand
5. Put seeds or pebbles inside the tube and close up the ends

Since prehistory, symbols of rain, clouds, lightning, and water animals have been an integral part of of art and ceremony in several southwestern Native American cultures. Visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix or the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff to explore the importance of these symbols in Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Pueblo textiles, paintings, ceramics, and jewelry.