Parenting 

Advertisement

Nature thaumatrope

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 children when cutting the circles.

What this activity will develop:
Science and thinking skills

What you'll need:

• White paper
• Coloured markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Cardboard
• Glue
• Small wooden dowel

Setting up:

1. Trace two circles on the white paper and two circles on the poster board, all the same size, and cut them out.
2. Use the markers or crayons to draw a bird on one of the paper circles and a nest on the other one.
3. Glue the pictures to the cardboard circles.
4. Glue the cardboard circles back to back, with the dowel between them to make a handle. Let the glue dry.

What to do:

1. 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.
2. Try making other nature thaumatropes, such as clouds and a rainbow, a rabbit making its burrow or leaves appearing on a tree.

 

Select more skills:
• Listening Skills
• Math Skills
• Motor Skills Help
• Science Fun
• Reading Skills
• Vocabulary Builder

Back to Skill Builder main page

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB