A kids’ favorite! From how to make a kaleidocycle to how to play with it
Have you heard of a “kaleidocycle”? A kaleidocycle is a 3D model that you can flip inside out over and over, with the patterns changing as you go.
In recent years, it’s been incorporated into childcare and eldercare settings, and it can be made from a variety of materials like milk cartons, origami paper, and construction paper.
Watching the patterns transform as you rotate the 3D shape is so intriguing that you’ll want to try it again and again.
In this article, we’ll show you how to make a kaleidocycle and share some lovely ideas for inspiration.
It’s also fun to brainstorm colors and patterns with kids, or divide up the origami parts and have everyone pitch in to complete the kaleidocycle together! Give it a try!
A kids’ favorite! From how to make a kaleidocycle to how to play with it
A three-sided kaleidocycle made from construction paper
The kaleidocycle looks like it would be hard to make, but you can actually create one easily using a simple template! If you search on the internet, you’ll find plenty of options.
Just use a template and fold it while following the mountain and valley fold rules correctly.
This makes it a great project to try with kids, so I highly recommend it.
Four-Panel Kaleidocycle Made from a Milk Carton
A “kaleidocycle,” where the pictures on its four faces switch just by turning it.
If you make it from sturdy milk cartons, it’ll be easy to handle and won’t break easily no matter how much you rotate it, so it lasts a long time.
All you need are two milk cartons and the pictures to stick on top.
If you use images with a storyline, you can enjoy it like a picture-story show.
Kaleidocycle of flowers made with origami
A mysterious kaleidocycle that can be flipped inside-out continuously.
It takes time, but you can complete it by making simple parts with origami and assembling them in order.
Here, it seems they used eight sets of 22 sheets of 1 cm by 1 cm origami.
It looks like it requires patience to make, but the joy when it’s finished will be great.
A kaleidocycle of one’s character
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2T5hXAli-U/President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Trump… what a stunning set of illustrations of past American presidents! I can’t help but say it’s amazing.
With a kaleidocycle, children are free to draw their own designs, and it also makes an appealing canvas for those who are good at illustration, like this.
Please give it a try and make one yourself.
A kaleidocycle made from original drawings
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByZhzQzlUcN/It seems this kaleidocycle was made using two milk cartons.
You might think the design needs to be related so that it aligns when flipped.
But don’t worry! Even if your child freely draws their favorite patterns on each part, it turns out quite well! You’ll get a variety of patterns, and it looks like lots of fun.
Kaleidocycle made with origami
Kaleidocycles are attracting attention because their structure can be applied across many fields.
Here is a popular kaleidocycle that’s easy to make using origami.
It looks fun to make at home and explore how it works.
The instructions are simple, so it seems suitable for anyone of elementary school age or older.
Kaleidocycle of Colorful Fireworks
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5sGxzCHF_7/This is a kaleidocycle made using solid-color origami paper.
It’s interesting how, while it looks colorful and pop when sitting on a surface, flipping it over transforms it into chic tones like black and purple! Don’t you think darker colors like black or blue could make it look like outer space? Try imagining how it will look when flipped and assemble it with that in mind!