A popular old-fashioned noise-making toy, the Chinese drum (rattle) is twisted in the hand so that the beads bounce of it and make a noise. With practise you can get a good rhythm going! Here's one the kids can make themselves..
You will need:
Shoelace
Wooden beads
Wooden spoon
Two old cds/dvds
Strong glue
Acrylic paint
Thread a bead on to each end of the shoelace and knot to secure. Wrap the shoelace around the spoon, gluing in place. Just a short length should be left either side.
Glue an old CD or CD-Rom to either side of the spoon. You need very strong glue for this (we used a hot glue gun), so young children must be closely supervised.
When the glue is dry, paint your drum with acrylic paints.
Practise getting a regular rhythm going, or use your drum to support your favorite team at a sporting event - perfect for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Or use your drum to make a loud noise on Chinese New Year!
