If your little wildlife explorer(s) wants some of their own kit to watch birds and other wildlife, getting them to make their own binoculars is a great low-resource activity to set them on their way.
Check out our birdwatching activity page to download some bird spotter sheets – these will help you ID the birds you see through your binoculars!
What you will need:
- Toilet roll tubes x2 (or a kitchen roll tube cut in half)
- String
- Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Elastic band
- Hole punch or pen
- Colouring crayons, pencils or pens (optional)
How to make your binoculars:
- Cut two strips of paper, each the width of a toilet roll tube, and glue one strip around each tube.
- Using a pen or a hole punch, make a hole in the side of each tube about a third of the way down.
- Apply glue down the side of one of the tubes, on the opposite side to the hole, and stick this to the other tube, so that both holes are facing out.
- Insert string into one of the holes from the outside of the tube. Bring it through the tube and tie a chunky knot. Repeat this on the other side to form the strap.
- Place an elastic band around both tubes to hold them together while the glue sets.
- Once the glue is dry, remove the elastic band and decorate your binoculars if you wish.
- Go wildlife watching!
Tell us what you saw using #DiscoverLearnPlay
