Build a noisemaker
Build a noisy shaker using a recycled container, rice or beads, tape, and decoration; test different fillings to learn how sound changes.
Step-by-step guide to build a noisy shaker
Step 1
Gather all your materials and put them on a clear table.
Step 2
Wash the container with soap and water.
Step 3
Dry the container completely with a towel.
Step 4
Measure 2 tablespoons of the first filling.
Step 5
Use the funnel to pour the measured filling into the container.
Step 6
Screw the lid on tightly.
Step 7
Wrap tape around the lid seam to seal it.
Step 8
Shake the shaker for three seconds using the same motion each time.
Step 9
Listen carefully to the sound it makes.
Step 10
Write one short note about how loud and how high or low the sound was.
Step 11
Open the shaker and pour the filling into a bowl for reuse.
Step 12
Repeat steps 4 to 10 with a different filling such as beads or dried beans.
Step 13
Decorate the outside of your shaker with stickers markers or paper.
Step 14
Compare your notes and choose which filling made the loudest sound and which made the lowest pitch.
Step 15
Share your finished creation and what you learned on DIY.org
Help!?
What can we use instead of a funnel or a 2-tablespoon measuring spoon if we don't have them?
Fold a piece of paper into a cone to use as a funnel and use a regular tablespoon twice or a small kitchen spoon to measure 2 tablespoons when pouring fillings into the container (steps 4–5).
My shaker is leaking or the lid comes off when I shake it—what should I check?
Make sure the container was fully dried (step 3), the lid is screwed on tightly (step 6), and the seam is completely sealed with tape (step 7), and if any filling spills use the bowl from step 11 to catch it.
How can I adapt this activity for a toddler versus an older child?
For toddlers, an adult should do the measuring, funneling and tape-sealing (steps 4–7) while the child helps decorate (step 12) and listens, whereas older kids can test many fillings, time the three-second shakes, write detailed notes (steps 8–10) and compare pitches (step 14).
How can we extend or personalize the noisemaker once it's built?
Try layering different fillings in the same container to create mixed sounds, label each filling and record which made the loudest or lowest pitch on paper or stickers before decorating (steps 4, 9, 12–14) and share your results on DIY.org (step 15).
Watch videos on how to build a noisy shaker
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Facts about sound and acoustics for kids
🎵 Maracas started as dried gourds filled with seeds and are a key rhythmic instrument in many Latin music styles.
🌾 Small fillings like rice make a softer, continuous sizzle, while larger beads create louder, distinct clicks.
♻️ Turning a recycled bottle or container into a shaker helps reduce waste — one person's trash can become the band's treasure!
🔊 Sound is made by vibrations: when fillings hit the container walls they create sound waves that travel to your ears.
🧪 Changing the type and amount of filling or the container size changes pitch and volume — it's a noisy science experiment you can play!
How do I make a noisy shaker from recycled materials?
What materials do I need to make a noisy shaker with rice or beads?
What ages is making a noisy shaker suitable for?
What are the benefits of making a noisy shaker with my child?
