A maraca is a percussion instrument that's usually
made from a hollow gourd filled with dried seeds or pebbles. When it's shaken,
it makes a rattling sound. While you may not have dried gourds with which to
work, there are many items that can be reused to make maracas. Using
postconsumer solid waste to make the instrument will help save natural
resources and landfill space.
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Cover your work area with newspapers. Wash and dry four dessert
cups. Using paint markers, decorate the outsides, following along with the
shapes on the containers, or make up your own design. Now take apart old
necklaces or bracelets, and fill two containers with some of the beads.
Reuse ribbon from gift packages to make streamers. Have an
adult use a hot glue gun to fasten the ribbon on the rim of the filled cup, and
glue on another container for the top. Repeat for the other maraca. Now turn on
the radio or pop in a tape or CD and make some music!.
Tips and Tricks:
Substitute other postconsumer solid waste such as empty yogurt
containers, pill bottles, film canisters, and plastic soda bottles for the
dessert containers. Instead of using beads from old jewelry, substitute dried
rice, beans, pasta, or fill the maracas with 
small pebbles or
seashells.
If you wish, cover the filled containers with a few layers of papier-mache, and paint with acrylics when dry. Varnish for a more durable finish. Learn more about percussion instruments at Percussion for Kids (from Stomp).
� 2008 Marilyn J. Brackney (updated 2018)
Volume 16 No. 3
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