Hanging Japanese Fish

• Hanging Japanese Koi fish can be used to decorate the classroom and teach students about Japanese culture. Draw a large fish on a sheet of paper. Hold or tape another sheet to the first and cut out the fish shape. Repeat for each child in the class. Cut out many circles from old magazines, colored paper or aluminum foil. Place two fish facing opposite directions in front of each child. Allow them to glue the circles onto the fish bodies to make scales. They can then decorate the fish heads using crayons or markers. Staple pieces of crepe paper streamers on the inside of one fish tail, then staple the two sides together. Punch two holes at the top or head of the fish and tie yarn through the holes to hang the fish.
  
  

Rainstick

• Rainsticks are ceremonial musical instruments that people in Chile use to invoke the rain spirits. Prepare the rainstick craft by holding the end of a cardboard paper towel tube on a sheet of brown paper. Trace the circle shape of the tube on the paper, then remove the tube and draw another circle slightly larger than the first. Draw several lines, or spokes, to connect the two circles. Cut around the larger circle, then cut each of the lines. Repeat this step. Glue one cap onto an end of the tube. Cut a piece of aluminum foil about six inches wide and 18 inches long. Crunch it lengthwise and twist in a spiral shape. Put the spiral in the tube and pour in dry beans, rice or unpopped popcorn. Glue the other cap on the open end of the tube. Decorate the tube with markers, crayons and stickers.
  
  

Paper Plate Maraca

• Maracas are used as rattles in Latin American cultures. Place a paper plate on the table and put one or two handfuls of dry beans, rice or unpopped popcorn on the plate. Place another plate on top of the first and staple them together around the edges. Decorate the maracas with markers, crayons, stickers or paint. Attach crepe paper streamers around the edges.
  
  

Good Luck Hand

• In Morocco, the khamsa is a symbol of good luck. Toddlers can make their own good luck hands from aluminum foil instead of precious metals. Trace each child's hand on a sheet of construction paper or aluminum foil. Glue the hand on another sheet of construction paper that is a different color. Decorate the hand with colors, markers, glitter, sequins or small pieces of aluminum foil.