How to Make a Cheap Kaleidoscope

Create the reflective interior of the kaleidoscope by folding your card stock into four equal sections lengthwise. The width of each section should be about 1 1/4 inches and the length should be around 8 inches, or the length of your tube. Unfold the card stock and cut off any excess paper after creating the four equal sections.

Cut a piece of aluminum foil the same size as your card stock and lay the foil on top of the card stock. Fold it up again, but this time use the folds to create a triangular tube with three sides. Fold the fourth side up along an edge of the triangular tube and tape them together. The aluminum foil will be on the inside of the triangular tube. Place it inside the paper towel tube to make sure it fits.

Cut two circles out of wax paper or plastic wrap that are two inches wider than your tube. Place the first circle at one end of the tube and secure it tightly with a rubber band. Set your tube on its end with the plastic wrap or wax paper end facing up. Find your colorful objects and set them on top of the plastic wrap or wax paper. Then take the other piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and loosely cover the objects, leaving some room for them to move around. Tightly secure the plastic wrap or wax paper to the tube with tape or a rubber band very near the edge of the tube so that the items do not fall down the sides of the tube.

Cut a circle out of the construction paper and remove enough of the center of it to create an eye hole. Secure that to the open end tube with a rubber band.

Point the kaleidoscope toward a light or window (in the daytime) and look through the eye hole. Slowly turn the kaleidoscope to see the many patterns that the reflections create.