Today’s STEM activity, homemade spectroscopes, is brought to us by Heideli Loubser, homeschooling mama of two. Heideli follows an eclectic homeschooling approach with her (almost) 7-year-old daughter and 3-and-a-half-year-old son. Heideli blogs over at www.homeschool-life.com.
Homeschool parents and teachers, gather your curious minds and eager learners because we’re about to take a thrilling journey into the world of stereoscopes – a DIY style!
With just a few simple materials and a pinch of creativity, you and your family will unlock a mesmerizing glimpse into the past, all while learning about the science behind this ingenious invention. It’s the perfect blend of history, art, critical thinking, and science – a true hands-on journey that leaves you feeling like time travelers.
Are you ready to immerse yourselves in a DIY adventure that will inspire wonder, ignite curiosity, and create unforgettable memories?
Then buckle up, because this DIY stereoscope experiment is about to transport you to another dimension – where the past meets the present in the most enchanting way imaginable.
Get ready to don your inventor’s cap and uncover the magic of stereoscopes together!
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DIY Homemade Spectroscope | Bring Light Refraction to Life!
I’ll confess, Science is a challenge for me. I didn’t enjoy it in school and wasn’t very good at it. Getting my head into science activities takes some doing, but this time around, I get to choose what looks like fun and learn along with my child!
Tillea is very interested in how things work and recently, she’s been asking many questions related to light.
- How do candles burn?
- How do you make a lightbulb?
- Where do rainbows come from?
I went on the internet in search of fun activities about light and light sources. I was looking for different from the usual lightbulb illustrations that tend to focus more on the concept of electricity than light itself.
This is how I discovered a spectroscope.
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What is a Spectroscope?
Similar to a kaleidoscope, the simplest explanation of a spectroscope is that it’s an instrument that splits light into different wavelengths. These different wavelengths make up the different colors of the rainbow. The fancy term for this is “light refraction,” a process that bends light waves.
Scientists use spectroscopes to determine what stars are made of. You see, when a scientist looks at a star through a spectroscope, the white light is separated into a spectrum of different colors, and it does so in such a way that is much more effective than your typical prism.
Additionally, it turns out that different particles making up the stars make different patterns of lines, all of which are visible with a spectroscope. Using these images, scientists can determine exactly what elements stars are made of.
Isn’t that cool? We might well do a star study after this…
We decided to try our hands at a DIY spectroscope and have our own study of rainbow reflections and different light sources. This turned out to be a fun way to enjoy simple science experiments at home.
Rainbow Science For Kids: Homemade Spectroscope
Making your own spectroscope, also known as a CD spectroscope or sometimes a kaleidoscope, is pretty simple and not intimidating at all! Before you know it, your kids will be well on their way to making all kinds of rainbows.
Materials Needed for a DIY Spectroscope
- Empty cardboard tube (such as one from used up paper towel roll or wrapping paper roll, or even a toilet paper tube)
- Cardstock or Cardboard (such as a piece from a cardboard box)
- An old CD
- Colored paper, paint, crayons, or stickers etc to decorate
- Pen or pencil
- Craft knife, razor blades, or scissors (adult supervision required)
How To Make a Spectroscope – 10 Simple Steps
- First, decorate the cardboard tube. Let your child glue some colored paper around the outside. Alternatively, your child could color or paint the cardboard tube.
- Using adult supervision, near the bottom of one end of your cardboard tube, cut a slit at a 45-degree angle. Don’t cut all the way through! This is where your old CD will sit.
- On the other side of the cardboard tube, directly opposite from the slit you just made, cut a little square peephole. Careful of any sharp edges!
- Using one end of the tube as a template, draw a circle on another piece of cardstock or cardboard. Cut around this circle, about half an inch away from the outline.
- Snip little triangles at small intervals around the circle (this will help with attaching it to the other end of the roll).
- Cut a slit of about a quarter-inch wide in the middle of the circle.
- Attach the circle to the opposite end of the roll (the side where you didn’t make the slit). Use glue or some pretty washi tape.
- Time to add more decoration! Make your homemade spectroscope colorful with stickers or markers. Make some patterns and make it your own!
- Here’s the fun part. Put the CD with the shiny side facing upward into the slit. Let the slit at the top of the roll face towards the sky (not the sun!) and then peek through the peephole to see a rainbow!
- Experiment with the colors you can see in various light sources. What do you see when you allow a natural light source to flow through your spectroscope? What about fluorescent light, incandescent light, or candlelight? Which light source was your favorite?
What Is Your CD Spectroscope Doing?
Your old CD is actually a mirrored surface that is made up of spiral tracts and pits. When the light hits these tracts, light is diffracted and colors are separated. When you look through the peephole, you are seeing that diffracted light (rainbow) being reflected off of the mirrored surface.
I was thoroughly pleased with how easy and fun this steam activity was to make and enjoy, and using simple materials! We’re looking forward to doing more studies and science projects on light.
See? If I can do a science activity, so can you! The pics aren’t perfect (taken in between tending to the baby and other interruptions!), but hey, it’s the smiles on our kids’ faces that count the most.
Happy homeschooling!
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More STEM Resources for Kids (Including A Free Printable)
If you liked this activity, you are going to love the STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription. Each month, you receive a project pack that includes 5 fully planned STEM project guides along with worksheets and instructions for how to make them fun and engaging for kids ages 3-19.
Want a free project sample? Sign up to get a complete 39-page project guide sent to you so you can see exactly what’s inside each of the STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription project pack.
I’ve also got this ultimate list of STEAM and STEM activities for kids of all ages if you want to take a look.
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jeanne
Wednesday 24th of August 2022
This is amazing, your inspiring art in so many areas...creativity, wonder, art, music. Congratulations.