Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for summer STEAM. This STEAM activity for young kids encourages the sense of sight! We spent a fun morning designing and crafting our simple kaleidoscope for summer play and learning. This kid’s kaleidoscope uses every component of STEAM to create a cool, homemade science toy.
HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS
What is STEAM? Everyone is buzzing about STEAM! Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. These 5 areas of learning are so wonderfully intertwined and offer amazing learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Read more about it here.
STEAM encourages kids to think bigger, do bigger, create bigger, and imagine bigger. Really to think outside the box, test drive the world, and solve problems. This simple kaleidoscope STEAM activity does just that.
I chose to make a simple kaleidoscope for the sense of sight, but I had no idea where to begin. A bit of searching led me to find several ideas where I would need to purchase items like prisms, glass, plastic etc. Hmm, not going to work for us!
I wanted to use what I had for a simple kaleidoscope perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and even early elementary age kids. I found a very helpful idea here that served as a guide. You can find simple step by step directions similar but slightly different from mine below.
SUPPLIES
Pringles can {without chips}
Shimmery scrap-book paper or aluminum foil
Hammer and nail
Clear glue
Tissue paper, glitter, and sequins
WHAT’S THE SIMPLE SCIENCE?
Since we didn’t have a prism or mirrors for our kaleidoscope, our science lesson was pretty basic. We discussed the reflection of light. When the light comes in, it bounces off the shimmery paper and is reflected back out in the direction it came in. This creates the colors and patterns. He pointed out all the colors he could see as he twisted the lid.
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE
Get started on your simple kaleidoscope right away!
If you are going to use one of these tubular chips canister, remove chips {eat of necessary}, rinse, and dry the can!
First, I rolled a piece of shimmery silver paper and put it inside can. Mark and cut off excess. I did not have to tack it down as it uncurled nicely to fit the inside the can.
Next, I covered the outside in a shimmery purple paper {or you can paint it!} and secured it with tape. Decorate if you like with markers, stickers, tape, and other embellishments!
Use a hammer and nail to punch an eye hole in the sealed end of the can.
We added a step to our simple kaleidoscope by gluing sequins on the inside of the Pringle’s can lid.
I mixed clear glue with a bit of water and glitter, lots of glitter. We tore and cut tissue paper to glue to the outside of the lid.
Your simple kaleidoscope needs one more thing, A second colorful lens!
For this you want to use contact paper. I cut a square and taped it sticky side up to the table. He added a little bit of everything. I pressed another piece of contact paper over the top to seal it.
Use scissors and cut the contact paper to fit your can. You will be putting the lid on over this, so make sure it is a close fit.
Next you want to glue it to top of can. Our regular Elmer’s glue worked fine.
It’s very important to let everything dry really well. Put the lid on your simple kaleidoscope and head outside.
PLAY AND LEARN
Twist the lid as you point the kaleidoscope up towards the sun. The fixed lens underneath the lid stays in place while the outside lid spins around it mixing all sorts of shimmering colors! The brighter the light the cooler it looks. We tested this of course!
NOTE: Please help your child and never encourage looking directly into the sun.
SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE KIDS CAN MAKE FROM THE RECYCLING BIN!
Simple ways to take STEAM outdoors this summer. Click on photos for details.
More STEM Ideas to enjoy this Summer. Click photos for details
Time for the rest of the STEAM ideas for sight!
How to Make a Magnifying Glass for Outdoor Exploration – One Time Through
Number Chart Art – Pink Stripe Socks
How to Make a Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle – Left Brain Craft Brain
Print and Color Tessellation Puzzles – Frugal Fun 4 Boys
So cool Sarah! I love the spinning lid idea and we just happen to have a pringles can at home. I think this is our project for today (it’s raining – perfect!)
Thank you! It works out pretty well. I am not crafty and even I could show my son how to do it!
I had no idea it could be so easy to make a kaleidoscope!
I know right Emma. I had no idea either. Although I would love to try one with a prism but this is still so cool.
I love it!
Love the process for adding the sparkle to the kaleidoscope. We made these at preschool the other day and this tutorial would have made them so much better!
Such a cool, cool idea! 🙂 Love how colorful and fun it turned out!
I want ideas for retired residents for crafting projects, that stimulate and encourage them to think out of the box.
I have to point out that this is a potentially dangerous concept. Pointing objects at the sun and exposing young retinas to direct light is risky with huge potential downsides. Even if well-made the object is risky; if poorly constructed it could be downright dangerous. The site’s owners need to have very high public liability insurance!
Thank you for your feedback. It is noted that kids should not look directly into the sun.
This helped my young brother a lot and made him interested in doing more such projects developing his skills and knowledge
Very easy to make