Fun and Easy STEM Activities for Kids- Periscope

Make a Periscope!

STEM investigations keep kids learning during down times. Encouraging STEM activities helps kids find and develop interests that might even turn into a career. Plus, they help kids develop and refine critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Today’s Fun, Easy STEM activity is a periscope! Here’s what you’ll need:

Two mirrors
Cardboard tube
Tape
Scissors

Kids can design and build a periscope to see things out of reach and learn about reflections, angles and optics.

Tips to help kids make their own periscopes:

Try to make sure that the mirrors are the same size and shape. This will help to create clear images.
Use a sturdy cardboard tube to prevent the periscope from breaking.
Let kids decorate the periscope to make it their own.

Kids will have to experiment with the different angles and positions to help them find the best way to use the periscope. With a little practice, kids will be able to spy around corners and investigate things out of reach.

STEM careers that use periscopes:

Naval engineering: Naval engineers use periscopes for navigation and surveillance.
Aerospace engineering: Aerospace engineers often use periscopes for surveillance.
Robotics: Robotics engineers use periscopes on robots to allow them to see around corners or over obstacles.
Medical imaging: Periscopes are used in medical imaging devices to allow doctors to see inside the body without making a large incision.
Underwater exploration: Underwater explorers use periscopes to see above the surface of the water.