With this red decoder secret spy glass craft you can take your little explorer on a thrilling detective adventure, or perhaps a magical quest to uncover hidden treasures?
With this easy and amazing DIY Magic Magnifying Glass, every day can be filled with mystery and discover.
This home made game can also be used with so many learning themes like letters and numbers meaning it’s a great way to make learning fun.
We’ve also put together a free printable page with red secret messages that you can reveal once you’ve made your red secret message viewer, you can download this PDF at the end of this blog post.
So to explain – this is not just any magnifying glass; it’s a magical red one that can reveal hidden secrets on a page!
It’s perfect for children who love themes of espionage, like little spies on a secret mission, or for those who enjoy the enchantment of a magician uncovering the unseen.
Imagine their excitement as they find hidden letters, numbers, words, and pictures, turning learning into a fascinating game.
This activity can be adapted for various themes—think detective stories, mystery games, police investigations, or fantastical magic shows.
How does The Secret Message Magnifying Glass Work?
The principle behind this fascinating tool is simple. The red cellophane filters out the red scribbles on the page, allowing only the non-red marks to be visible. It’s like having a secret code that only your special magnifying glass can read!
What’s the science of the red secret message viewer?
The magic behind this crafty magnifying glass is rooted in the science of color filtration. When you look through the red cellophane, it acts as a filter that blocks out light waves from the red spectrum.
As a result, the red scribbles on the page, which are the same color as the filter, blend in with the background and become nearly invisible, allowing any non-red colors or graphite from a pencil to stand out.
This craft provides a hands-on opportunity for STEM learning, particularly in the realms of optics and physics. Children can learn about the subtractive color model, which is the basis for mixing paints and inks that absorb light. They can explore how different colors of light can be filtered out and how our eyes perceive the reflected light.
By experimenting with different colored cellophanes and markers, kids can discover why the red cellophane works best for this activity.
Red is typically used because it provides a stark contrast and is one of the primary colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. It’s a color that human eyes are very sensitive to, and when used as a filter, it effectively “hides” anything behind it that is of the same hue. This exploration of color filtration can lead to discussions about how filters are used in everything from photography to astronomy, making everyday learning an extraordinary discovery.
How to Make Your Own Red Magnifying Glass Step by Step
Follow the step by step instructions to make your own red lens secret message viewer
Secret Message Magnifying Glass
This simple DIY project transforms an ordinary afternoon into an adventure of uncovering hidden messages and images.
A craft that doubles as a magical learning tool, it promises to spark curiosity and excitement in children as they peek through their homemade magnifier to reveal secrets on the page. Get ready for a fun-filled mission of exploration!
Materials
- Cardboard
- Red cellophane
- Scissors
- Glue
- A red marker
- Black marker or Pencil
- White paper
Tools
- Printable secret message page - Optional
Instructions
- Design Your Magnifying Glass:
Start by drawing the shape of a magnifying glass on a piece of cardboard. It should have a big circle for the lens and a handle for holding.
- Cut it Out:
Use scissors to carefully cut out the magnifying glass shape. If you're doing this with little ones, make sure an adult does this part.
- Cut a piece of red cellophane that’s slightly bigger than the circular lens on your cardboard magnifying glass.
- Attach the Cellophane: Apply glue around the rim of the cardboard lens
and stick the red cellophane onto it, making sure it's taut and smooth. 
- Create Hidden Images:
Using a red marker, scribble over a white piece of paper randomly. Then, with a pencil or a non-red color, draw or write whatever you want to be discovered.
you can also draw first and scribble second, it doesn't matter which way you do it. 
- Let the Discovery Begin:
Once the glue is dry, your Magic Magnifying Glass is ready for action. Let your child use it to reveal the hidden messages or images on the paper!
This Magic Magnifying Glass can be a fantastic tool for themed parties or educational activities. Set up a detective storyline where kids must uncover clues, or a magic show where they reveal secret messages.
Incorporate it into learning by hiding letters for young readers, numbers for budding mathematicians, or sight words for more advanced literacy skills.
The possibilities are endless, and the fun is guaranteed.
So gather your supplies, and have so much fun with hidden messages and secret discoveries with your very own DIY Magic Magnifying Glass!
Download Secret Messages Printable
Want to try out your red lens viewer on our secret messages? then print out this PDF file with 6 different hidden pictures.
Of course you can make your own too.
Terms of use: Free for personal use and free for classroom use.
More STEM Activities for Kids
This mystery science activity is a great boredom buster for kids. We have a bunch more stem activities to keep boredom away and kids entertained and learning in the most fun ways
- Growing Gummy Bears Kitchen Science Experiment for Kids
- Popsicle Stick Catapult STEM Activity
- STEM LEGO Challenges With Free Printable
- What Colors Make Green? Color Mixing Activity for Kids (with Printables)
- Easy Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment For Kids
- Number Codes Activity with Free Printables
If you’ve had a blast uncovering hidden secrets with our Secret Spy Glass, don’t keep the fun to yourself! Pin this activity on Pinterest for future crafting sessions or share it with friends and family so they can join in on the detective-themed discoveries. Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to the joy of learning and play!
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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