CarpCraft – Thaumatrope

Celebrate Carpmas AND at the same time — demonstrate the theory of Persistence of Vision OR, more accurately, Phi Phenomenon or Beta Eye-Movement OR in Layman’s Terms (and I love the Layman) an optical illusion that prequels early animation toys of the nineteenth century.

Huh?

Observe:

Collect: glue stick, hole punch, two rubber bands, card-stock cut into a 100 mm x 80 mm rectangle, a paper picture-drawing of a carp (on 90 mm x 70 mm paper) and a paper picture-drawing of a platter (on 90 mm x 70 mm paper)

 

You can color-up you picture-drawings to make them pretty if you wish...

 

Glue-stick the paper to the card stock — try to centre the drawing as much as possible. IMPORTANT - the image/picture on the rear-side must be pasted upside down in relation to the frontside.

 

Punch holes through either side and loop in some rubber bands....

 

Pinch the rubber bands between your fore-fingers and thumbs and twirl. If you twirl at the right speed you should see the illusion of the fish and the platter as one image:

 

 

 

 

Some other Carpmas themed thaumatropes to try:

 

Fish… in a lake or pond

Fish… in a bath tub

Fish… in an oven

Potato… in a pot

Or conversely, if you would like to try a more traditional thaumatrope design:

Bird… in a cage

Fish… in a tank

Rider… on a horse

Hat… on a head

Etc… Etc… Etc…

 

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