Create an Optical Toy: Thaumatrope | MetKids

Follow along with Durga, age 11, and learn how to make a thaumatrope, an optical toy that was popular in the 1800s. Roughly translated from Greek, the word thaumatrope means "wonder turn."

Materials:

--card stock
--pencil or pen
--roll of masking tape, plastic lid, or another circular shape to trace scissors
--hole punch
--two rubber bands

Instructions:

1. Think about what you want to draw on your thaumatrope. It needs to have two related elements—like a bird and a cage, or a fish and a bowl.
2. Draw a circle on a piece of card stock. You can trace something with a circular shape, like a roll of masking tape or plastic lid.
3. Cut out the circle and punch two holes opposite each other and at the edge.
4. Make sure the holes are horizontal. Then, draw an element on one side.
5. Now flip the circle over from bottom to top.
6. Draw the second element on the other side.
7. String a rubber band through one of the holes, and thread one end through the loop at the other end. Repeat on the other side.
8. Pull the rubber bands tight and use your forefingers and thumbs to spin the circle back and forth. Watch your two drawings become one!