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A magic lantern is a light that projects an image onto a screen. This activity walks through the process of creating a magic lantern, the patterns it projects, and the programming it requires to make the Pico Cricket (micro-controller) change the light colors. This activity could be extended into a two- to three-hour workshop. Pico Cricket is required. No programming experience necessary, this activity is for beginners. This activity uses an older Pico Cricket, so adjustments may be necessary if using a newer version. The What Else? section provides links for background information about magic lanterns, scratch animation, and controlling lights with Pico Cricket
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 2 to 4 hours
- Over $20 per student
- Ages 8 - 18
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- Pico Cricket kit
- mini-lights
- wire
- aligator clips
- 1-inch thick insulation foam
- scissors or craft knife
- shoe box or similar sized box
- translucent paper (tracing paper)
- transparent paper (or plastic)
- cardboard tube from toliet paper or paper towels
- tape
- glue
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Circuits
-
Vibration and Waves
- Light and Optics
-
Electricity and Magnetism
-
The Nature of Technology
- The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Electronics
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- use keyboard
- use mouse
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 0087813