The Fresh Beat Band Maracas

Recycle and make music at the same time. These maracas are made from water bottles filled with rice. Get on your feet and shake to the beat!

Catch the beats weekends on Nick Jr.

Materials

• Two small water bottles, emptied and thoroughly dried
• Acrylic or latex paint in white
• Paintbrush
• Thick dowels, cut to about 10 inches in length
• Aqua and orange acrylic paint
• Uncooked rice grains
• Clear packing tape
• Green and orange felt
• Fabric glue
• Aqua and orange plastic cord
• Fresh Beat Band Stickers
• Inkjet sticker paper

Directions

1. Step 1

   To make the bottles white, either pour paint inside and swirl it around, then allow it to dry overnight. Or, for faster results, paint the exteriors of the bottles. Let dry.

2. Step 2

   Paint one dowel orange and one aqua. Let dry.

3. Step 3

   Pour some rice into each water bottle.

4. Step 4

   Insert one dowel into each bottle. If it is wobbly, create shims with thick paper, jamming them into the bottle opening. Secure the dowel by wrapping it and the bottle neck with clear packing tape.

5. Step 5

   Cut two 1 1/2- by 4-inch strips of felt, one in green and one in orange. Apply glue to the entire strip, then wrap one around each bottle neck.

6. Step 6

   With the colored cord, tighten the felt onto the dowel by tying a tight knot, then a bow.

7. Step 7

   Print the logos onto sticker paper and apply them to the surfaces of the maracas--then shake, shake, shake.