JoinTeaching Inquiry Skills Using Rainsticks
South American tribes created rainsticks—percussion instruments made from bamboo or dried cactus filled with rice—to appeal to the gods in hopes of bringing rain. In Africa, rainsticks are musical instruments. In the Caribbean, they are used in ceremonial dances. Children in China use rainsticks as toys. You can use rainsticks in your classroom to teach important inquiry skills to students of all ages—from preschool to graduate school. This article presents strategies for using rainsticks with middle school students while addressing the National Science Education Standards.