When Science Spins: Making Moving Christmas Ornaments

When Science Spins: Making Moving Christmas Ornaments
Hosted by Wildflower Data and Learning
Ages 8and up | Family-Friendly Workshop

Step into the wonder of motion and illusion this holiday season! In this hands-on workshop, you will design and build your own Thaumatrope and Agamograph Christmas ornaments—festive creations that blend art, science, and storytelling.

Participants will explore how our eyes and brain work together to create the illusion of motion, a concept known as persistence of vision—the very principle that laid the foundation for early animation and modern movies. Through guided activities, you will:

• Create spinning Thaumatropes that merge two images into one as they twirl,
• Design folding Agamographs that reveal two different pictures depending on the viewing angle, and
• Discover the optical science behind how these illusions trick our perception.

Each guest will take home their own moving ornament, ready to hang on the tree and amaze family and friends. It’s the perfect fusion of art, physics, and holiday creativity—where science quite literally comes to life before your eyes.

✨ Join us for a joyful afternoon of discovery and design, where imagination spins into motion!