Making a pinhole camera

Inspired by the theme of the Victorians, this activity supports the teaching of design and technology in context by making a pinhole camera based on early Victorian photography technology.

In this classroom project learners will learn about early camera obscuras developed during the Victorian era. They will then make their own pinhole camera from a small shoebox, based on this early technology. Finally, they will test their camera and observe how it works.

This teaching resource activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners basic marking out and model making skills. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on the history of design, technology and engineering, alongside other Victorian-themed IET resources.

We’ve created this teaching resource design activity to support the delivery of key topics within science, history, design & technology (D&T) and engineering.

Activity: Make a pinhole camera inspired by the early photography of the Victorian era

Learners will discuss the origins of cameras and photography in Britain and the United Kingdom including the fact that in Victorian times many women took up taking photos as a hobby. Learns will then make their own pinhole camera and test it by going into a dark room, turning on a lamp and pointing the camera towards it.

Tools/supplies needed:

Resources required:

• Cardboard box or shoebox
• Wax paper
• Parcel tape
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Pin to make the pinhole
• Pencil and ruler

Follow our step-by-step guide to make a pinhole camera

• Learners will work individually or in pairs to make their pinhole camera.
• Remove the top of the shoebox and mark out an 80 mm x 35 mm window on one end of the box.
• Use a craft knife to cut out the window. ⚠
• Use scissors to cut out a 95 mm x 50 mm piece of wax paper for the camera screen. Cut from the top corner to avoid waste.
• Place the cut piece of wax paper over the window and use parcel tape to stick it into place.
• Turn the box around to the other end. Draw two lines, corner to corner, to find the middle point.
• Push a pin through the middle point to make a small hole. Keep this as straight as you can.
• Put the lid back onto the shoebox. You are now ready to test your pinhole camera!

Testing

• Make sure you are in a  dark room.
• Turn on a lamp and point your camera towards it
• You should see the light on the screen – it will be upside down!

The Engineering Context

Understanding about the history of engineering and design helps engineers to learn from past successes and mistakes. For example, learning about early photography us to understand the science behind these ideas and how this can be used and developed to make better products in future.

Suggested learning outcomes

This resource combines Science, Design and Technology, Maths and Engineering with History, with the aim that the learners will know what is meant by the Victorian era and the dates it covered, be able to make and test a pinhole camera and be able to explain how the pinhole camera works.

Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources

All classroom activity sheets and supporting teaching  resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation.

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