Activity 3: Making a pinhole
camera
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Optics / Photo |
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Target Group: Children of 3 to 6 years in kindergarten |
Aim: Discover the principle of a pinhole camera |
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Where: Group area |
How long? Approx. 1 hour |
What? Pinhole
camera
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Preparation: A finished self-made pinhole camera as
illustrative material. Material for the children: Empty cardboard boxes and drums, tracing
paper, scissors, pens, tape, magnifying glasses. |
Steps: The children examine the finished pinhole camera made of cardboard
(effect: Picture is upside down). Steps for making a pinhole camera:
Afterwards the children
experiment with their self-made cameras by looking for objects which they
want to “photograph” or look at using their cameras. It will also become
clear that the picture is really sharp only at a certain distance. |
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Scientific explanation: The magnifying glass serves as a lens. It
disperses the arriving rays of light and throws the picture onto the tracing
paper. The picture is laterally reversed and upside down because the glass
bundles the rays of light and passes them on upside down. In a real camera, a lens and a film are used instead of the magnifying
glass and the tracing paper. If the drum is pushed back and forth, the
picture comes into or out of focus, as when one uses the zoom of a real
camera. With bright and dark items the accuracy of the image changes. |
Possible variation: Older children can first examine a simple old
camera and afterwards experiment with the material at hand until they have
found a correct solution. The experimentation phase and their discussions
make the children realize how a camera works. The nursery school teacher may
offer his / her assistance. |
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Note! Using magnifying glasses from an optician is easier then working with
those you can buy at a toystore that have a handle. |
References: Ardley, Neil: 101
spannende Experimente aus Wissenschaft und Technik. Bindlach 1996. |
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