Kate's Corner: Make your own spectroscope

Summer break is here and your kids may start getting a little bored. Here is an activity for them to have fun but also learn while doing it. In this Kate's Corner, we are going to make our own spectroscope.

Here's what you'll need:

- A paper towel roll

- Paint or construction paper (optional)

- Piece of paper

- Knife (and adult supervision)

- Scissors

- Tape

- A CD of DVD

First, if you want your spectroscope to have a color, either cover it with construction paper or paint it. Once you are ready, with adult supervision, cut a 45 degree line in the bottom of the tube. Then on the opposite side of that slit, cut out a peephole.

Now, on a piece of paper, trace the other side of the tube. Cut that out then cut a slit in that circle. Once done, tape that onto the top of the tube.

Finally, take your CD or DVD and face it shinny side up and put it into the slit. Now look inside. You'll see all the different colors of the rainbow.

Now a spectroscope breaks down light and separates it into all its different wavelengths. As the light comes through the top slit of the tube, it reflects off the CD or DVD and is separated into all the different wavelengths which look like all the colors of the rainbow.