The sound of rain can be recreated with a number of items. A commonly used instrument, called a rain stick, is made from a dried cactus whose needles have been inserted into the body. To create the sound of thunder, shake a large piece of sheet metal.
To imitate the sound of horse hooves trotting along the ground, play flam triplets on a pair of wood blocks. Other animal sounds can be made by wetting the thumb and running it gently along the skin of a conga drum.
Place a microphone on a plywood surface and crunch hard-shelled nuts under your boot. This can simulate the sound of extreme violence being done.
The sound of wind can be recreated by cutting a section of flexible hose, about four to five feet in length, then swinging the hose in a circular motion. Also, you can make wind sounds by blowing across the top of a bottle.
To make more sounds, try experimenting. Rattles, talking drums, clay pot drums and log drums all have endless possibilities for recreating sounds that exist in nature. Household items such as PVC pipe, pots and pans, saws and metal springs have the ability to make ethereal sounds that have never been heard in nature.