Recycled Easter Egg Maracas

I'm baaaaaack! We had an AMAZING time in Puerto Rico (without kids!), and I would love to share some of the cool stuff we saw and did, but I literally have no clue where to begin. So, for now, I am backtracking. Actually, this project relates in a way because maracas are a traditional musical instrument of Puerto Rico. So, go me, I'm not as off-track as I thought.

This fun, simple craft is one that the kids and I did in VBS, right before heading off on vacation. We had a global carnival theme and during the last day, we "visited" Mexico. My friend, Julie, came up with the craft projects for the week, and I helped out a bit. I don't know where she found this idea, but it was great, and ALL of the kids from preschool to 6th grade LOVED making maracas. (Actually, I think several of the teen helpers came back later to make their own maracas, too, so this pretty much appeals to kids of all ages.) Plus, it's a fun way to re-use those extra Easter eggs that I am sure you have laying around.

{This maraca is simple and fun to make.}

Materials:

• empty plastic Easter eggs (1 per maraca)
• plastic spoons (2 per maraca)
• decorative duct tape (or regular masking tape and markers to decorate)
• scissors (optional)
• macaroni noodles (or rice, dried beans, beads, etc.)

Directions:

1. Open a plastic Easter egg and put in about 5 macaroni noodles. If you don't have those, any dried pasta, rice, or beans will work. You could also use beads, button, brads or whatever small items you have on hand to make the noise. Close the egg after filling it. (Note: It doesn't matter what color egg you use, or even if the two halves match because you will be covering it up.)
2. Tear (or cut, if you prefer) off 3 pieces of tape. We used a variety of decorative duct tapes. Some kids chose to use plain masking tape, which they decorated with markers after assembling the maracas. Two pieces of tape will be longer, about 8 inches (you don't need to measure, just approximate) and the last one will be shorter, about 4 inches. (Note: If doing this with a large group, as we did, tear many strips in advance and place them on a wall where kids can easily reach them. We did this in sets of 3, which turned out to be unnecessary because they liked to mix and match their patterns.)
3. This next step is easier if you have a helper. Cradle the egg between two plastic spoons and then adhere the tape. (One person can hold it all together while the other person applies the tape. Just ask your child which job he wants and then you can do the other one!) We found that it was easiest to use the short piece to go over the tops of the spoons to sandwich the egg in between and hold it all together. Then, we used the longer pieces, one at a time, to go around the egg and cover the rest of it along with part of the spoons. It does not need to look perfect, but you can always add more tape if needed. (Note: If you don't have any plastic spoons on hand, you can just make egg-shaped shakers by filling them and applying the tape.)
4. If using masking tape instead of decorative duct tape, now is the time to draw designs with markers. Otherwise, you are done. Enjoy making music with your maracas!