kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscopes are timeless toys and you can make a great one from household scraps. Kids will be fascinated by the wonderful colours and shapes they spy inside.

materials

• Clean, empty cookie or potato-chip tube
• Hammer Nail
• Double-sided mirror card (or aluminum foil glued onto card)
• Scissors Ruler
• Sticky tape
• Transparent plastic (from the recycling bin)
• Pencil Tracing paper
• Small colourful transparent objects, such as beads

eco info

This project demonstrates the importance of reusing materials that still have a useful life, rather than throwing them in the bin.

hints and tips

• Before you make your kaleidoscope, send your little one on a treasure hunt around the house to find lots of small, colourful (preferably transparent) objects to put inside the object chamber.
• If you don’t have an old biscuit/potato chip tube you can improvise and make one from an old kitchen roll tube instead.

Step 1

Using a hammer and nail, pierce a hole in the metallic end of the tube (this step is for grown-ups only).

Step 2

Create a reflective prism by cutting your mirror card into three strips (grown-ups only). The strips should be 2cm/¾in shorter than the length of your tube. To calculate the width of your strips, measure the diameter of your tube and multiply it by 0.866. Using sticky tape, stick the three strips of mirror card together to form a triangular prism.

Step 3

Push the prism into your tube so that it is flush at one end. Secure in place using sticky tape.

Step 4

Stand the tube on top of a piece of transparent plastic and, using a pencil, draw around the outside of the tube. Cut out the circle of transparent plastic and place it on top of the prism. Tape into place. Pour your beads on top of the transparent plastic. Be careful not to overfill as the beads need to be able to move around.

Step 5

Stand the tube on top of a piece of tracing paper and, using a pencil, draw around the outside of the tube. Cut out the circle of tracing paper and use it to line the plastic lid for your tube to create a frosted effect.

Step 6

Put the lid back on the end of the tube. You can secure the lid using some tape or glue. Once your kaleidoscope is complete let your little one decorate it using paper, felt pens/markers and crayons.