Make an Easy Tubescope

Children love to watch and spot patterns in simple pictures and objects. Here's an activity that gives your preschooler the chance to do just that by creating a tubescope. All you need is a cardboard tube of any size, some wax paper or cellophane, and some tissue paper scraps to start. Similar to the kaleidoscope but much easier to make, the tubescope is a great way for your preschooler to experiment with colors and shapes while creating something beautiful for the whole family to enjoy!

What You Need:

• Cardboard tube, any diameter from small to large
• Wax paper
• Art tissue scraps
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• White glue thinned with water
• Paintbrush
• Tape or heavy rubber band
• Optional: colored cellophane

What You Do:

1. Cut a piece of wax paper into a circle 1" to 2" larger than the end of the cardboard tube.
2. Using a paintbrush dipped in thinned glue, brush bits of art tissue onto the wax paper circle. Pieces can be torn or cut with scissors, or little circles made with a hole punch can be used.
3. Dry the wax paper, glue, and tissue overnight.
4. As a variation, use plastic wrap or cellophane instead of wax paper. Young artists like to look through colored cellophane, tissue, and paper before sticking them to the wax paper, so they can decide which colors are most effective for them to use on their tubescope.
5. When dry, place the wax paper design over the end of the cardboard tube and press the edges over the edges of the tube. Tape the wax paper circle to the tube or use a heavy rubber band.
6. Cover the other open end of the tube with cellophane.

When done, your child will have created her very own colorful, tubescope! Look through the other end of the tube to see the colors and designs. Hold the colors up to the light too for added impact.