Join our 4-H teens as they learn all about the science behind light and reflections!
What are we learning about today?
Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope and wondered how it works? All those cool colors and patterns almost seem like magic! Spoiler alert: it's not magic – its science!
Kaleidoscopes use mirrors that reflect the light and objects to create amazing designs. You can make one of your own – and it's way easier than you think!
What do you need?
- Handful of iridescent beads or marbles
- Clear ornament ball (the kind that comes in two halves)
- Cardboard tube (like from paper towels)
- Sheet of mirror board or aluminum foil
- Origami paper or fun decoration
- Glue stick
- Tape
Try it yourself!
- Make the object chamber (The part that holds the stuff you see in your kaleidoscope).
- Take your clear ornament ball and put some colorful beads in one half, then snap the other half on.
- You can tape it shut if you want to be extra safe.
- Gently push the ornament ball into one end of the cardboard tube.
- Build the mirror triangle (The part that makes the patterns look magical.)
- Take your mirror board and fold it into three equal parts, shiny side in.
- Bring the long sides together to make a triangle shape. You've just made a reflection tunnel!
- Slide it into the tube from the opposite end of the ornament ball.
- Make it look pretty!
- Wrap your origami paper around the outside of the tube, or make it your own with markers, stickers – whatever you want!
- Try it out!
- Look through the open end of the tube and point it toward a light.
- Twist it, shake it, turn it – those little beads bounce around and the mirrors reflect them into endless patterns. It's like a little light show inside a tube!
Open and print the supply and test list for yourself!
Learn more here!