Materials:

Pencil

Rice or Beans (small amount)

Directions:

#1 - Shaker

Shake the can back and forth or up and down or all around. It's a maraca! Actually, just about every human culture has created shakers, mostly from those cool hollow vegetables called gourds (a pumpkin is a gourd). Try putting different stuff into the can, or using different containers. What happens to the sound?

#2 - Drum

Of course, it's also a drum. Take the pencil and hit the plastic top. The plastic part vibrates to make an instrument called a membranophone - or drums. Try hitting the plastic right on the rim - it's a 'chock' sound called a rim shot. Also trying pushing on the plastic top with a finger while hitting it with the pencil - what happens when you push harder or softer?

#3 - Metal Drum

#4 - Scraper

Take your pencil and scrape it up and down the ridges on the coffee can - it's a guiro! Although the guiro is a latin musical instrument, like the maracas it has been reinvented all over the world. Try scraping at the tip of the pencil or really close to where you are holding it - does the tone change? Also try scraping it with chopsticks or other long thin things.