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How to Make a Periscope Mailing Tube

The periscope is an optic device used for looking around corners or, on submarines, above the water. They are great tools for spies who need to see if someone is coming without revealing their position. If you have a mailing tube and a couple of mirrors, you can even make a periscope you can carry around without seeming suspicious. A periscope mailing tube is a perfect way to hide your spy tool in plain sight.

Things You'll Need

Construction paper
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
3-inch-diameter mailing tube
Marker
Cardboard
Utility knife
Glue or duct tape
Mirrors

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a 2-inch square out of construction paper.
- 2
  Lay the square over the tube at one end. Trace the square with a marker.
- 3
  Slide the paper around, and trace the square two more times, one on each side. You should have three squares around the base of the tube, leaving a small, unmarked sliver around the back.
- 4
  Point the tube with the right-hand square facing you. Draw a line from the lower-left corner of the square up to the top-right corner of the square. Rotate the tube and repeat with the square on the left side, drawing a line from the lower-right to the upper-left corner. This is where you will cut slits to store the mirror. Mark 1/2 inch in from each end of the slit marks on either side.
- 5
  Cut out the slits on both sides using the utility knife. Cut out the middle square to form a window hole.
- 6
  Push a piece of cardboard through the slit; it will tilt in at a 45-degree angle.
- 7
  Glue a mirror to the cardboard piece.
- 8
  Flip the tube over and repeat the steps with the other side. Cut out the squares so that the windows are on opposite sides of the tube.

Educational Toys