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How to Build a 3D Theater for a School Project

School projects can be loads of fun to complete with your children. Remember that hands-on learning is one of the best ways to remember things, so be helpful but don't do the work for them. 3-D theaters are fun for everyone. Although this particular project is large, and your child will need help getting it to school, it is acceptable, and will produce oohs and aahs from all who see it. In addition, it will last a good while, so it can be used over and over.

Things You'll Need

  • 5 18-inch squares of plywood
  • 16 corner brackets
  • Drill
  • Screws
  • 2 17-inch LCD monitors from before 2005
  • 1 15-inch square of 50/50 glass
  • Super glue
  • 6-foot 1-by-1-inch board
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drill a hole in the bottom left corner of one piece of plywood. This will be piece number one for the project. Drill another hole in the left corner of a second piece of plywood. This will be piece number two.

    • 2

      Lay piece number one flat and screw two corner brackets into it. Each bracket should be about two inches from each end of the board on what will be the inside of the box. Use the drill to screw them in tightly.

    • 3

      Attach piece number two by screwing it to the other side of the corner brackets. Your construction should be L-shaped.

    • 4

      Screw two more corner brackets onto piece one, on the side opposite the first set of brackets, about two inches from each end.

    • 5

      Attach a third piece of plywood to the other side of the corner brackets, to make a U shape.

    • 6

      Screw two more corner brackets on the right side of pieces two and three, the top and bottom of the box. Make sure you attach them on the inside of the box.

    • 7

      Attach piece four of the plywood so that it is flat against the edges of pieces two and three, to form the side of the box. Screw two corner brackets on the back edge of piece four to attach it to piece one (the back of the box). Piece four should have corner brackets on the top, bottom, and back edges.

    • 8

      Screw two corner brackets to the left side of pieces two and three and attach piece five of the plywood to the corner brackets, to form the other side of the box. Screw two more corner brackets to the back edge of piece five to attach the side to the back of the box. Piece five should have two corner brackets on the top, bottom, and back edges. You should now have a box with an open front.

    • 9

      Thread the cord of the first LCD monitor through the hole that you drilled in the first piece of plywood and plug it into the monitor. Apply a small amount of super glue to the back of the monitor. Slide the monitor into the box and push it against the back.

    • 10

      Spread a thin line of super glue on the flat side of a 6-inch piece of 1-by-1-inch board and the right side of the box. Slide the board in between the side of the box and the edge of the LCD screen. This will ensure a tight fit, so the screen will not slide inside the box.

    • 11

      Turn the box so that the first LCD screen is lying on its back.

    • 12

      Thread the wire for the second monitor through the hole in the corner of the second piece of plywood and plug it into the monitor. You will need to put a small amount of super glue on the back of the screen, so it will adhere to the wood and not fall, and slide the screen in place against the back side of the box..

    • 13

      Put a thin line of super glue on one side of another 6-inch piece of 1-by-1 board and on the right side of the box. Slip the board in between the second LCD screen and the side of the box.

    • 14

      Allow the glue to dry for about an hour.

    • 15

      Set the box so that one screen is positioned at the back of the box and the second screen is positioned at the top of the box.

    • 16

      Position the 15-inch-square piece of 50/50 glass in the box at a 45-degree angle. The top of the glass should be in the corner formed by the two LCD screens. The bottom of the glass should reach the bottom front of the box.

    • 17

      Put super glue on two pieces of 1-by-1 boards that are the same length as the inside of your box and place them just inside the front of the box with the glass resting on them. These two pieces will be one in front of the other, so you should have a 2-inch-wide shelf at the front of your box.

    • 18

      Glue another piece of 1-by-1 board on top of the board closest to the front of the box. The bottom edge of the glass will be held in place by this piece.

    • 19

      Use your computer to watch movies in your new 3-D theater.

Childrens Theater

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