Create a beautiful, translucent rainbow that catches the sunlight in your window. This project teaches kids about colors and how light passes through different materials.

Tools

• scissors
• pencil

Materials

• black construction paper (12x18 inch, 1 sheet)
• multi-colored tissue paper (squares, 20 pieces)
• clear contact paper or wide transparent adhesive film (12x18 inch, 1 sheet)
• glue stick (1 unit)
• string or yarn (12 inches, 1 piece)

Safety

• Adult supervision recommended when using scissors.
• Be careful with the sticky side of the contact paper to avoid sticking to clothing or hair.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Do not wrap string around neck or limbs.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Draw a large rainbow arc or a specific shape (like a cloud or heart) on the black construction paper using a pencil.
2. Carefully cut out the shape with scissors, making sure to cut out the center of the rainbow so that only a black frame remains.
3. Cut the multi-colored tissue paper into small squares or organic shapes, roughly 1-2 inches in size.
4. Lay the clear contact paper sticky-side up on a flat surface.
5. Press the colorful tissue paper pieces onto the sticky contact paper, grouping them by color to create the rainbow effect (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). Leave a small gap between some pieces to let more light through.
6. Carefully press the black construction paper frame on top of the tissue paper, sandwiching the colors against the adhesive film.
7. Smooth out any air bubbles with your hand and trim any excess contact paper from around the edges of the black frame.
8. Punch a small hole at the top of the black frame and tie the string through it to create a hanger.
9. Hang your suncatcher in a sunny window and watch the colors glow!