Build a Kaleidoscope

You can use mirrors and beads to make a colorful kaleidoscope. All you have to do is shake it, and beautiful patterns form, one after another.
You will need the following:
Flashlight,Sharp pencil,Tape,Beads,Scissors,Cardstock,Tracing Paper,
three small mirrors,Hole punch

1. Tape the three mirrors together to form a traingle.

2. Draw around the mirrors on the card.
3. Cut out the triangle. Use a pencil or hole punch to make a hole in the middle of the triangle.
4. Tape the triangle to one end of the mirrors.
5. Stretch the tracing paper over the end of the mirrors. Tape it firmly in place.
6. Drop some beads through the hole. Your kaleidoscope is now ready.

7. Shine the flashlight onto the tracing paper and look through the hole, into the kaleidoscope. You see several images of the beads combined, forming a pattern. Shake the kaleidoscope to change the pattern.
***The mirrors reflect light from the beads to form several images of them.***

Extended Resources

http://tiffanyphillips70.blogspot.com/search/label/Experiment%202%20-%20Looking%20Around%20Corners

Background information on kaleidoscope

A kaleidoscope is a toy that uses light and mirrors to reflect objects and create patterns. There are many different types of kaleidoscopes that create different patterns, but all use the same basic laws of physics, manipulating light and reflection.
The first part that is essential to the kaleidoscope is a reflective material. Most kaleidoscopes use mirrors. Long, thin mirrors are set so that they are facing one another. Two to four mirrors can be used, depending on the end pattern desired. They are usually set in cardboard, but kaleidoscopes can be made out of any round, hollow material. Homemade kaleidoscopes can be made using a paper towel roll with aluminum foil for a reflective surface. Older kaleidoscopes were crafted with tin. Some versions use three pieces of blown glass that are set in a triangle.
One end of the kaleidoscope, called the object chamber, contains the objects to be reflected. A homemade kaleidoscope can be made using beads, string and paper clips. The standard kaleidoscope is made with bits of colored plastic or glass. The end of the kaleidoscope is closed off with glass or plastic. This not only keeps the objects contained, but filters light through to reflect the images. On some versions, the end of the kaleidoscope rotates so that different patterns can be easily created. Homemade versions can be rotated by hand for the same effect. There are also types that hold glass marbles for the objects; marbles can be interchanged for different patterns.
The other end of the kaleidoscope is for viewing. It can be closed off as well, as long as there is a small hole for viewing. The hole is held up to the eye so that the eye looks down through the mirrors and can see the patterns created by the reflections.
When looking through the hole, light filters through the plastic or glass on the end of the object chamber and illuminates the objects, which then reflect off of all of the mirrors. The reflections bounce off of one another as the light passes through the tube. The eye sees these bouncing reflections, creating the patters. As the kaleidoscope rotates, the objects shift in the chamber, and the reflection changes, creating new patterns. The concept is simple, but creates a wonderful end result that delights and entertains.

Tennessee Science Standards

GLE 0407.10.2
Investigate how light travels and is influenced by different types of materials and surfaces.

Check for understanding:
Design an experiment to investigate how different surfaces determine if light is reflected, refracted, or absorbed.

SPI 0407.10.2
Determine which surfaces reflect refract, or absorb light.

Make a Volcano Erupt

You can make a volcano with "red hot" lava flowing down the sides. Although it may not be real lava, it will work like a real volcano.
You will need the following:
1 Pan or baking dish
Vinegar
Small Plastic bottle
Baking soda
Sand
Gravel
Red food coloring
Funnel

First, add red food colorng to your vinegar to make the red hot lava.
Second, Using the funnel, half fill the bottle with baking soda. Then stand the bottle upright in the middle of your pan/dish.

Third, pile gravel then sand around the bottle to make the volcano.


Last, quickly pour some red vinegar into the bottle and watch the volcano erupt.



***Bubbles of carbon dioxide gas form in the bottle and force out the red vinegar causing the eruption. ***

Extended Resources

http://daltonandrea.blogspot.com/2010/04/fight-fire2page-33.html


http://cleddington.blogspot.com/search/label/Experiment%20%231%20Make%20an%20Underwater%20Volcano

Austin and his trapped raccoon

Ethan and our snowman in our big snow.