What does kaleidoscope mean?
Word: Kaleidoscope
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Kaleidoscope means a tube toy that you turn and look into to see bright patterns that keep changing. It can also mean a changing mix of many colours or things.
How do you spell kaleidoscope?
Syllables: ka - lei - do - scope
Tricky part: The word starts with k, not c, and after the l comes ei, not ie.
Watch out for: kaliedoscope, kalidoscope, caleidoscope
Memory tip: K for kite, k for kaleidoscope: two bright, colourful toys, both starting with k.
Kaleidoscope in a sentence
Example 1: Every turn of the kaleidoscope showed a new star pattern.
Example 2: The night market was a kaleidoscope of lights and colours.
Example 3: Anu made her own kaleidoscope from a cardboard tube for the science fair.
Fun Fact
The kaleidoscope was invented by the Scottish scientist David Brewster in 1816. Its name comes from Greek words meaning beautiful, form and to look at.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) binocullars
b) prisim
c) kaleidoscope
d) magnifing
Show answer
c) kaleidoscope. Binoculars has a single l, magnifying keeps its y and prism has no i between the s and the m.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
ka_eido_cope
a) l, c
b) r, c
c) r, s
d) l, s
Show answer
d) l, s. An l follows the ka, and the end is scope, as in telescope.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
olcpeidskaoe
a) kaleidoscope
b) stethoscope
c) microscope
d) periscope
Show answer
a) kaleidoscope. The k and the d rule out the three other scopes, because none of them has either letter.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
kaleidoscoope
a) o
b) c
c) e
d) p
Show answer
a) o. Scope has one o, unlike scoop.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is inside a kaleidoscope that makes the patterns?
a) a screen and a small chip
b) a lens and a roll of film
c) mirrors and bits of coloured glass
d) a tiny bulb and a battery
Show answer
c) mirrors and bits of coloured glass
2. The garden was a kaleidoscope of flowers. What does this mean?
a) It had flowers of many colours.
b) It had flowers only in pots.
c) It had flowers of one colour.
d) It had flowers that had dried up.
Show answer
a) It had flowers of many colours.
