A thaumatrope is a card with different designs on each side which, when the card is twirled, blend into one. Create this nature thaumatrope, which shows a bird in its nest. Be sure to assist younger kids when cutting the circles.
What this activity will develop:
Science and thinking skills
What you'll need:
• White paper
• Colored markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Poster board
• Glue
• Small wooden dowel
Setting up:
Trace two circles on the white paper and two circles on the poster board, all the same size, and cut them out.
Use the markers or crayons to draw a bird on one of the paper circles and a nest on the other one.
Glue the pictures to the poster-board circles.
Glue the poster-board circles back to back, with the dowel between them to make a handle. Let the glue dry.
What to do:
Hold the dowel handle between both hands, and rub them back and forth rapidly. This will flip the picture back and forth, making the bird appear to be in the nest.
Try making other nature thaumatropes, such as clouds and a rainbow, a groundhog making its burrow or leaves appearing on a tree.
