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    You are here: Home / Learn / Science / Old School Fun: Make a Thaumatrope

     

    Old School Fun: Make a Thaumatrope

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    Have you ever made a thaumatrope? It's an easy way to combine science learning with a bit of craftiness for STEAM fun.  I'm a pushover for old school DIY toys, especially the ones I remember making when I was a kid. A thaumatrope is a groovy, optical toy that teaches kids about "persistence of vision". Sounds fancy, right? It's really just about visual perception and creating the illusion of motion because the eye can retain an image for roughly 1/20 of a second after the object is gone. So the next time your kids whine, "I'm booooooored!!!!!" challenge their scientific and design minds to create a few thaumatropes.

    How to make a thaumatrope

    (Note: this post contains affiliate links)

    My kids have really been digging the thaumatropes we made this week.  Thaumatropes are traditionally made by drawing complementary images on two sides of a disc. A string is then threaded through each end so when the disc is spun, the two images appear as one. We made a slightly different version which is easier for little hands to manipulate: thaumatrope on a stick.

    How to make a Thaumatrope on a stick

    What you need:

    • Card stock
    • Something round
    • Scissors (these are my favorite kid friendly scissors)
    • Pencil and markers
    • Double sided tape
    • Straws or other stick-like object such as chopsticks, dowels, or even real honest-to-goodness sticks

    Instructions:

    1. Trace and cut out two identical circles.

    2. Draw two images which "go together." (You can find templates out there, but it is much more satisfying to draw your own!) My son created an osprey on one side and a fish on the other so that the spinning image would look like an osprey was carrying the fish. (Not to brag or anything -- well, okay I am bragging -- but I thought that was a pretty awesome idea.)  I created the classic "goldfish in the bowl" with a fish on one side and a bowl on the other. My 6 year old wanted dueling lightsabers. The possibilities are endless.

    Thaumatrope on a stick and images

    TIP: To align the drawings, stack the paper circles and press hard with a pencil around the outline of the first image. The image impression will be on the 2nd circle and kids can easily align the images appropriately.

    Putting together a thaumatrope

    3. Place a piece of double sided tape on the straw and apply the first paper circle. Flip over and apply second piece of tape. Carefully align the images back to back and press to secure.

    Aligning thaumatrope images and taping to straw

    4. Hold the straw between two palms and spin!!! Watch ours in action!

    Fun fact: Thaumatrope means "wonder turner".

    Explore More Motion Science

    • Use our free printable to make Halloween thaumatropes!
    • Make a zoetrope. My older son put together a zoetrope in one of his recent Tinker Crate kits. A zoetrope is an early animation machine.
    • A similar spinning toy is a whirlygig. The Craft Train has a fun printable and instructions.
    • Steve Spangler has a tutorial for a disappearing color wheel spinning toy.

    Want more 52 more STEAM activities? Get the free list, plus step by step instructions for 2 sample projects. Sign up here. 

    STEAM ideas list

    Books to inspire kids to make art.     Nonfiction science picture books for kids    Books for inventors

    How to make a thaumatrope.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ana says

      June 06, 2015 at 7:13 am

      We love Thaumatropes!!!!! Such a fun and classic toy that astutely irresistible!

      Reply
    2. Leslie says

      June 06, 2015 at 11:13 am

      How neat! 🙂 Pinned!

      Reply
    3. Joe Buckshin says

      June 09, 2015 at 11:11 am

      Such a simple craft that has a bit of science and art! Love it.

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        June 12, 2015 at 8:07 am

        Thanks! It's so nice to have simple ideas on hand.

        Reply
    4. Caroline says

      June 10, 2015 at 7:11 am

      We loved making these and we also made RUMA. Thanks for such great ideas...I linked to you on my blog. http://thehoppepad.blogspot.com/2015/06/games.html

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        June 12, 2015 at 8:06 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    5. Lilian says

      June 24, 2019 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks so much for your awesome yet simple ideas!

      Reply

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