Delight the senses with super easy Christmas theme thaumatropes you can make just about anywhere! My son loved this easy STEAM activity and that’s saying quite a bit since he usually doesn’t like anything to do with drawing. When I showed him my sample thaumatrope he was pretty interested in how the two sides seemed to blend together when he spun the straw in his hands. The perfect project for us!
What is a Thaumatrope?
It is thought the thaumatrope was invented in the early 1800’s as a popular optical toy. It has a disc with different pictures on each side which appear to blend into one when spun. Thanks to something called the persistence of vision.
Our Christmas thaumatrope below is a fun way for kids to explore simple optical illusions. To give the illusion of the images blending together, you need a picture that comes in two parts. A classic thaumatrope is the bird and a cage.
CHECK OUT: Valentine Thaumatrope
Watch the Video!
Christmas Thaumatrope Supplies
When I say easy, I mean easy! I didn’t realize just how simple this super fun toy is to make. No mess either! I am not too crafty so I was impressed by how easily they came together. Plus my Christmas thaumatropes actually worked! Bonus, YOU can do it too!
Want to try the other activities seen in the video? Click on the links below.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Printable Christmas pictures (see below)
- Christmas straws
- Tape
How to Make a Christmas Thaumatrope
STEP 1: Print out the thaumatrope Christmas pictures below. Or design your own!
STEP 2: Cut out your circles and then tape the back of one circle to a straw.
STEP 3: Then attach the other circle to the straw with tape. You are done!
Have fun twirling your Thaumatrope!
More Fun Christmas Activities
- Christmas Science Experiments
- Advent Calendar Ideas
- Christmas LEGO Ideas
- DIY Christmas Ornaments For Kids
- Snowflake Activities
- Christmas STEM Activities
- Christmas Art Projects
- Christmas Jokes for Kids
Printable Christmas STEM Project Pack
200+ PAGES OF HOLIDAY THEME STEAM, STEM, Science, and Art!
- 25+ Christmas theme science and STEM activities with printable sheets, instructions, and useful information all using easy-to-source materials perfect for limited-time needs. Includes a holiday theme engineering pack with fun, problem-based challenges for kids to solve! NEW observation sheets included.
- Try a Santa’s Letter airplane challenge or take the gingerbread house-building challenge!
- Explore the five senses with a specially designed Santa’s Lab pack.
- Try a mini nature study with your favorite type of Christmas tree.
- Try your hand at building shapes with gumdrop structure challenge cards or build shapes with jingle bells. Or try the Christmas-themed paper chain challenge!
- Christmas Screen-free Coding activities include algorithm games, binary code ornaments, and more!
- Explore 6+ Christmas Art Projects with famous artist-inspired activities that combine art history, process art techniques, and more with simple to-do ideas.
The link for the printable Christmas Thaumatrope pictures goes to a Free Christmas Color By Number request… Luckily, when I used the request anyway, the Thaumatropes printable arrived. The Thaumatropes look like a fun activity!
Shelley
When I click the link to get the printables, the wrong printables appear. Then In the past they have never been sent.
Please email me sarah@littlebinsforlittlehands I will double check it! Please note that some school/business systems may block the delivery of printables as they are automated.
Thank you I fixed it! Feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you need anything!