Activities For Kids Easy crafts and printables for kids, preschool and older. You'll also find Birthday Party themes, Holiday crafts, Kids recipes and Classroom prtables.
Have children create Water Bottle Maracas to celebrate the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. Use recycled water bottles filled with red, white and green rice, the colors of the Mexican Flag. Maracas are musical instruments often played at Mexican celebrations.
Supplies You Will Need
- Scissors
- Water Bottle – any small recycled clear plastic bottle
- Craft Glue
- Ribbons for decorating
- Zip Lock Baggies
- 1 1/2 cup Rice
- Food Coloring – red and green
- 2 tsp Rubbing Alcohol
Coloring the Rice
Start by coloring the rice to be used in the maracas since this will need some time to dry. Add about 1/2 cup of the uncooked rice in a zipper lock baggie. Next, put 1 tsp of alcohol and a few drops of red food color into the baggie. The amount of food color depends on the richness of the desired color. Seal the baggie shut and shake the contents until the color is evenly distributed. Repeat this step with green food color.
Once all the rice is colored, open up the baggies so that air may enter and dry the rice. To speed up the drying process, place a paper napkin on a plate and empty the contents of one bag onto the plate. Spread the rice out for more air circulation.
Making the Maracas
Layer the rice into a clean dry bottle. Use a funnel or rolled paper to create a quick funnel. Only fill about 1/4 of the bottle with rice.
Apply the craft glue around the top of the bottle and replace the lid.
Tie colorful curling ribbon to the top of the bottle for decoration.
An easy musical instrument for any age, Maracas need no skill to play, just shake to the beat.
