Building Binoculars is an easy engineering activity for preschoolers. These DIY toilet paper roll binoculars are simple and easy prep. A great STEAM Activity for Preschoolers with an emphasis on Engineering.
Several months ago I asked the question – How do I teach Engineering to Preschoolers? I quickly realized that honestly I was over-thinking this side of the STEAM education…which STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math – when these five areas collide in education it makes for engaging and hands on learning to be fun and exciting.
I love seeing my little preschooler use her imagination and creativity. Isn’t this what we strive to see in our kids as parents and even teachers? Here at our house we have a craft box full of items that my preschooler can sit and craft on her own and use her creativity. This box means no direction from mom and no instructions given…just at her own freedom to do what she’d like with the items in it. Well the other day she had grabbed these toilet paper rolls, decorated them and was pretending they were her binoculars! I jumped on this one, right?!?!
Engineering Activity for Preschoolers
What you need to make your own DIY Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
- 2 toilet paper rolls
- Markers, glue, paper stickers etc.
- 2 feet of string/ribbon
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun/ glue ( to be done by parent or teacher)
How to make DIY Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
- Let your preschooler decorate the empty toilet paper rolls however they’d like. Using the markers, glue/paper, stickers etc.
- Using the hot glue gun (parent or teacher only!) glue the two rolls together for them.
- Parent/Teacher -using the scissors punch a hole on one side of each of the toilet paper rolls.
- Attach string through the holes.
- Now explore what they see through their binoculars!
A way that I let her engineer these on her own was I asked questions the entire process of me putting these together for her…another words I made her think about how these were to be put together to make binoculars. Make your learning process one that is engaging their mind through questions and conversations.
We can’t wait to explore some weather and clouds outside with our binoculars!
Click here to see more of our STEAM Activities for Preschoolers!
Why should you be teaching Engineering to preschoolers?
Engineering is a process to solve problems.
Engineering is the process by which young children discover how the things in their world are built and how they work.
16 Engineering Activities for Preschoolers
We are a husband and wife team, pairing our strengths together to teach our preschooler in the most fun and engaging way we possibly can. The mister is a high school educator at Northlake Christian school in Covington Louisiana and over the Innovation Center, which is all things STEAM. I am a SAHM that blogs pretty much everything we do in our little paradise, from what we eat, to where we travel to how we teach our little one. We hope you are inspired to incorporate STEAM into learning with your children.
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