K is for Kaleidoscope

this week we are learning the letter K. i think as a child i put up a mental block on all things that started with "K" because all that mattered was K is for Kyli. :) so now that i am a 20 something year old teaching pre-school with my tongue hanging out of my mouth going "duuuhh.." i am struggling. SO google helped me out with my egocentric "K" issues and i decided i wanted them to learn the word kaleidoscope. :)

this art project that i [pre] made is a little rough because i didn't take the time to paint it, color it or wrap it up with actual cutsie paper, stamps or stickers. forgive me... i somehow don't have the time and luxuries of a four year old. couldn't be that blogging is taking up my time, could it? ;)

so, i started with a [unrolled] roll of toilet paper.
[note: i don't actually use toilet paper rolls in class...i feel like that is kind of not sanitary on multiple accounts...and if i cant bring in my own baked goods from my CLEAN kitchen, they sure aren't getting my old brown rolls from my bathroom...blek!]

next,  you'll cut a circle from plain or cardstock paper. 

for the sake of time and sanity, i just used regular paper. 

the circle is going to be about a 1/2 inch bigger than your "cardboard" tube.

after your circle is cut, you are going to trim it so that there are little tabs...for the sake of confusion, i will post the picture and you can take away what you may. :) you just kind of chisel away at it until it looks something like that! 

you're going to take your little chiseled tabs and fold them over your toilet paper roll so that it has a nice tight-ish, but not too tight-ish fit over...it doesnt need to be perfect. remember, art is about the process, not the product! :) 

now, in the other end, you are going to fill your kaleidoscope with whatever...i got little fluffy pom poms so they wouldnt fall out (if you were really material savvy i imagine you could put a layer of plastic wrap in between the tube and the eye hole...but i was just not that smart til now...whoops) but do as you wish with whatever you wish! [process not the product whatever helps me sleep at night]

last but not least, you are going to get some wax paper and close off the open end. i chose wax paper because its not clear, but it will let light through...and it reminded me of the texture of the real kaleidoscopes. :)  i just cut a square off of my bad boy roll and wrapped it around and taped it off. i was even thinking you could put a rubber band around it and change out the innards if you decided you hated the pom poms like i do. :) 

when doing this with the kids i am going to have them glue a colored strip of paper over the taped mess so that it looks some what artsy and not so ghetto. but for the blog, you crafters, teachers, parents and friends will have to use your little imaginations and alter my interesting procedure to fit your personal style.

i hope you enjoyed this!! :) 

happy teaching!

Ms. Kyli (remember, K is for Kyli!)