DIY Projector
Family Project Idea (Ages 8+)
How to Make a Movie Projector at Home
About: Want to try a short DIY project that’d let you project videos from your smartphone onto a wall? Here’s how you can make your own movie projector out of a shoebox. Optionally, you can decorate it with wrapping paper from your holiday festivities this year!
What You’ll Need: Empty shoebox; magnifying glass; tape; scissors; pencil; glue gun; cardboard; smartphone; black paint or craft paper; glue; and your parent’s help if you’re a kid!
Instructions:
Gather all the materials above.
Trace the circle of your magnifying glass over a short end of your shoebox. This can go over the lid as well.
Remove the lid, and cut out the shape of the circle. If you’re kid, get your parents to help you with this!
Cut the shape of the circle over the lid as well.
With either black paint or black craft paper, paint/cover the inside of the shoebox with black. This will enhance the quality of your projection. If you use paint, make sure to wait until it’s all dried!
If you can remove the handle from your magnifying glass, you can do so. Otherwise, cut a hole inside the shoebox for the handle to poke through as a projector stand.
Position the magnifying glass close to the hole.
Use a glue gun to glue the magnifying glass to the hole.
You’ll need a stand to place your smartphone inside. Create one out of cardboard paper. As long as your phone can rest on it, it’s fine.
Find a video you want to test your projector with. Play it on your phone, and set autorotate to locked. Then, set your phone on the stand upside down.
Position your phone towards the back of the inside of your shoebox.
Close the lid of your shoebox, and turn off the lights in your room.
Find a blank wall to project your image onto. You may have to adjust the positioning of your phone inside the box, and the distance with the screen.
Experiment until you get the clearest projection!
