Light & Color Viewer

What happens to the world when you look at it through red? Or blue? Today your little one makes a simple handheld viewer with a colored window, then looks at the same objects through each color to see how everything changes.

What you need

• Cardstock or a cereal box panel

• Child-safe scissors (grown-ups do the window cutting)

• See-through colored material in red, blue and yellow: colored cellophane, colored report covers or colored plastic folders all work

• Tape or a glue stick

• A few everyday objects to look at, like a banana, a white sock, a green leaf and a favorite toy

How to do it

1. Make the frames. Cut three rectangles of cardstock, about the size of a phone. A grown-up cuts a window in the middle of each, leaving a thick border to hold.

2. Add the color. Tape a square of red material over one window, blue over another and yellow over the last.

3. Line up the objects. Put your objects in a row on the table.

4. Look through red. Hold up the red viewer and look at every object. Ask, "What color is the banana now?"

5. Switch colors. Try blue, then yellow. Talk about what changes and what stays the same.

6. Stack them. Hold two viewers together. What happens when you look through red and yellow at once?

Why we love it

Our eyes see color because of light, and this is a gentle first look at that idea. Kids compare, predict and describe, which are real science skills. Stacking colors is also a sneaky preview of color mixing (red and yellow make things look orange!).

Tips from our table

• Report covers from the office supply aisle are sturdy and easy for small hands.

• Take the viewers outside. The sky, grass and flowers look amazing through each color.

• Never look at the sun, even through a viewer.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• White cardstock

• Crayola toddler safety scissors

• Colored cellophane sheets

• Colored report covers

• Elmer's glue sticks

• Shop everything for Week 4: My Senses

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Five Senses activities, Letter D activities and Number 4 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.