Make a simple paper tube pirate telescope using 3 toilet rolls for a fun and easy craft that looks like a spyglass.
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Pirates and sailors used to use a telescope, also called a spyglass, to see things at a great distance from their ships. Make a paper tube pirate telescope for a fun pirate week craft or add it to your prop box for imaginative play.
This pirate telescope is just for fun and isn’t a functioning telescope with lenses.
Craft tips
- You can use any cardboard or paper tubes – paper towels, toilet paper rolls, and mail tubes. If you’re using food packaging, make sure they are clean. Remove lids and cut off the bottom of packages to make a tube.
- We cut our tubes to telescope together because they all started the same size. If you can find 3 tubes that are different sizes and fit inside one another, no need to cut them.
- Our telescope is pretty plain, but you can decorate yours to look however you like. Use different colors of paint and tape. Add stickers!
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How to make a pirate telescope
Supplies
- 3 toilet paper tubes
- paint
- paintbrush
- scissors
- black duct tape
Instructions
1. Paint and cut the tubes.
Start by painting all 3 paper tubes. They can be all the same or different; we painted ours light brown to look like brass. Allow the paint to dry completely.
Then cut down the length of 2 of the tubes. Trim about 1/4 inch from one and 1/2 inch from the other. The third tube should remain uncut. After trimming, they should all fit together one inside the next.
2. Tape the tube ends.
Cut lengths of duct tape to cover the ends of each tube. Line up the cut edges to fit together. Fold half of the tape over the end and smooth it on the inside of the tube.
We didn’t use any tape along the cut sides because the duct tape holding the ends was enough.
3. Stack the tubes.
Stack the telescope tubes to fit inside each other, overlapping at the duct-taped ends. Cut additional pieces of tape to wrap around the seams where each tube meets.
Decorate the pirate telescope if you like and you’re done!
Printable instructions
Pirate Telescope
Materials
- 3 toilet paper tubes
- paint
- paintbrush
- scissors
- black duct tape
Instructions
- Paint and cut the tubes.
Start by painting all 3 paper tubes. They can be all the same or different; we painted ours light brown to look like brass. Allow the paint to dry completely. Then cut down the length of 2 of the tubes. Trim about 1/4 inch from one and 1/2 inch from the other. The third tube should remain uncut. After trimming, they should all fit together one inside the next. - Tape the tube ends.
Cut lengths of duct tape to cover the ends of each tube. Line up the cut edges to fit together. Fold half of the tape over the end and smooth it on the inside of the tube. - Stack the tubes.
Stack the telescope tubes to fit inside each other, overlapping at the duct-taped ends. Cut additional pieces of tape to wrap around the seams where each tube meets.
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