A maraca is a Latin American and Tupi rattle. The original maracas were made from hollow gourds filled with pebbles or seeds.

You can make simple maracas from one or two paper plates stapled together, containing dried beans or popcorn. These are fun to make at a party for preschoolers - you can then make a lot of noise!

• One or two paper plates
• Dried beans, rice, or popcorn
• Stapler
• Paint, markers, or crayons
• Optional: crepe paper streamers

[You can use a single plate for each maraca by folding a paper plate in half, adding the beans, then stapling the rim to itself.]

You now have great maracas that you can use to make music.