Make a Shoe Box Movie Theater!

This is a quick, easy project I did with the kids tonight while dinner was cooking. It's a terrific summer boredom buster and if you have movie obsessed kids (like my oldest) it's a great way to satisfy their movie craving while at the same time bringing out their creativity!

 

Start with a shoe box and cut one square in the back and cut out two slits on either side of your square (tip, make the slits a bit bigger than the square)

 

Cut a peep hole on the other side of the box. Our peep hole is very large because my two little guys can't "peep" yet. 

 

On a piece of paper draw out a strip as wide and tall as your square (and as long as you like).

 

Create a story in the blocks of your strip. Leave the first and last blocks blank. This is a super simple one but you can get really creative with it. You can have opening credits, elaborate plots and you can draw, sketch or paint the pictures.

 

Thread your movie through the slits so that the pictures show up in the square. Using crepe paper or cloth create curtains on the side of your screen.

 

Put the lid on your box.

 

This part was hard to get a good picture of but essentially you look through the peep hole and hold the box up to light and pull your movie through one block (or frame) at a time you can watch your movie unfold!. You can also go in a dark room and hold it up to a flash light which looks really neat.

BONUS: Try this for finger puppets or create a family picture slide shows! Enjoy!