Hands on - Rice maracas

2 paper plates
Colouring pens or crayons
Sheet of paper
Dried beans, peas, rice or lentils
Stapler
Coloured tissue paper, crepe paper or streamers

Turn the paper plates upside down and decorate the bottom of them with pens or crayons. Use bright colours and bold patterns - why not draw one of the plants from the Plant Cultures website?

Put the plates together with your designs on the outside, and staple around the edge. Leave an openening which you will use to fill your maracas.

Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. This will be used as a funnel to fill your maracas with ease. Place a handful of lentils, rice or beans into the folded paper. Pour the filling into the openening. Staple the last openening of the plate shut, with no gaps for the filling to escape.

If you want you can also staple the coloured streamers to the side of the plate.