This simple kaleidoscope is an easy way to stimulate curiosity and exploration in your students. Third graders to high school students find them easy to make and fun to experiment with. Your class, with a little guidance, will generate so many questions that a 20 minute project can turn into a week's worth of curriculum. In the setting of our science center, making kaleidoscopes with afterschool groups or vacation camp kids has been a great way to integrate physical science exploration into a non-formal learning environment. Kids of all ages enjoy taking these toys home to share with their families.
Procedure Cut the contact paper.
Peel the protective paper off the back of the contact paper and place the first glass slide in the same direction as the long side of the contact paper. The corners of the slides should be near the corner of the contact paper. Place the second slide along the edge of the contact paper, so that it makes one long row. Place two more slides on the contact paper in a row parallel to the first row. Make sure that there is a space separating the rows that is about as wide as a toothpick.