Sea Shell Symphony
You can take a walk on a beach with your kids to find shells for this project, or, if that's not possible, check out your local craft store for bags of shells. This shell wind chime should be hung in a garden or on a porch where it will make lovely music when moved by a breeze.
Holiday Hassles
Several varieties of marine life are on the endangered species list due to aggressive commercial shelling. If you find a shell on the beach with an animal still inside, be sure to return it to the ocean.
Level: Moderately easy
Time involved: One to two hours
Materials:
- Plastic milk jug
- Scissors
- Hammer
- Nail
- 24 shells
- Cord
-
Cut around the plastic jug 1 inch from the bottom. Discard the rest of the jug or save it to make a scoop. Using the hammer and nail, make six holes in the center of this piece of plastic.
Using the hammer and nail, make a hole in the top of each of the shells. Some shells might break, so you'll need to have a couple of back-ups. Parents should assist younger children with this step.
Cut six lengths of cord that are each 15 inches long. String four shells on each piece of cord, making a knot in between the shells to hold them in place. Thread the ends of the cord into the holes you made in the plastic.
Thread another length of cord through the first hole and knot it. Thread the other end through the last hole and knot this. If necessary, make two separate holes for this cord. Use the cord to hang your wind chime from a tree or porch.