Do you have a light box or light table in your classroom? These are great for sensory learning and the great thing is that you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a light box! Today I’m excited to show you how to make a DIY lightbox for your classroom!
DIY LIGHT BOX
Materials: A plastic box with a lid (find a lid with as few lines as possible, mine is Sterlite 24L x 16W x 7H), LED lights, metallic spray paint, and frosted spray paint. The LED lights can change colors, and flash or the students can use the remote to pick the colors! I use these rope lights from Amazon:
Step 1: Spray paint the inside of the box metallic. This helps reflect the light up and out! Do not spray the lid with metallic paint.
Step 2: Spray paint the lid with the frosted spray paint. This keeps the light from being too bright! This is not necessary but helpful. I have made a second light box without the frosting and works great! The frosting will also scratch and scrape off over time but we’ve used our light box for 8 years and it’s really not bad at all and hasn’t been redone at all.
Step 3: Drill a hole in the bottom corner of the box for the rope light. Slide the slide through.
Then place the lights in the box. Run the power cord through the hole that you drilled. And that’s it!
You can also use two sets of LED lights and the lights can be different colors!
We use these small plastic cups (Yes, they’re shot cups!!!!) from the Dollar Tree. These make excellent manipulatives for the light box!
To see ideas on how to use the lightbox for math and literacy, check out these posts
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44 comments
Ok…..so problem…..I WANT a light table!!!!! LOL:) Not for my classroom but for me;) hee hee:) So cool! Your kids are gonna go nuts having fun and learning with that:) Here's to a busy and productive summer for us friend:)
4th Grade Frolics
“So I like to pin things on Pinterest (DUH!) and then in the summer I like to make stuff (DUH!)”. Love! I'm so glad that I'm not alone 😉 I love this light up box. You are the bomb-diggity. Well, a glitter-bomb-diggity, right? Have a WONDERFUL summer!
Just what I needed – more linky parties! lol Maybe some of the fun summer linkups will help keep me productive this summer!
Bryce
Second Grade Stampede
This is just too cool for school!!! Love it 🙂
Bridget
Literacy Without Worksheets
LOVE the light box! I have pinned your idea and need to go back through my closets and cabinets to see if I still have some of my old overhead centers!
Mrs. Spriggs’ Kindergarten Pond
Love this! I will be making it ????!!
Sooooo…..why am I in love with this light table??!?!?! And sadly, I don't want it for my classroom, but for me!! Oh, I'm so doing this!!!
Angela
The Daily Alphabet
You are amazing. That is all. How do you do it all and then some?!
Learning With Mrs. Leeby
Ba ha ha! I still have an overhead projector that does the same thing!! Thank you for all of the ideas!!!
Ooooohhhh… I WANT!! Such a great idea!
Jennifer
Jenuine Possibilities
What a great idea and what kid (no matter what age) isn't going to like experimenting with this. This will be perfect for my “light” unit in first grade too!
OH, I pinned it for you in a few places on Pinterest too!
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My husband is soo not going to like you! Lol. I'm going to keep him busy one afternoon making a couple of these for my classroom and for our 6 year old. I'm the creative type so I'll make the manipulatives but he's definitely in charge of the table making! Awesome post–especially love the step-by-step photos for us visual types.
-Lisa Liddiard
http://liddiardsperch.blogspot.com
How do you block out the light in your classroom to use this? Like, do you have a certain little area that's a “fort” to block out the light? Or is this a light's out center? I have been dying to ask since I saw over the summer!
It's bright enough that the lights can be on. I have this on the floor by a wall across the room from the window!
Do you spray the underside or outside of the lid? Thank you!
Inside!
Is the lid clear?
It was until I frosted it!
Hey Mr. Greg and Mr. Mister! Do you still use the light box in your room/stations?
YES!
I was inspired by this post to make a smaller (and a bit cheaper!) version of your light box. I used an Iris scrapbook case ($3 on sale at Michael’s) and LED lights (Kohree 60 MicroString Decor Rope Light Battery Powered on 10ft Ultra Thin String Copper Wire) for $7 at WalMart online, used the frosted spray paint ($4 at Lowes) on the top and lined the bottom with foil. It looks great, and will hopefully work well with my kiddos. All for ~$15 with tax. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Hi Greg! I am interested in making a light box for my classroom. Does it still work and light up in the classroom even if the lights are on? Thanks!
It does!
Hi! Do the lights inside the box ever get to hot? Did you leave air holes for ventilation?
no they are led and led light don’t get hot! 😉
Any experience in using a white or light blue lid? I am having trouble finding a suitable sized container with a clear lid. TIA!
I’ve never used a colored lid, I’m not sure how well the light will filter through.
How do you adhear the letters and numbers and things to the cups?
If you click on the pictures you can read the blog posts and read all about how to make them@
Hi!! Is there anyway you can tell me the brand of box you used? And about what size it is? Trying to find one!
Ok so I zoomed in and I think it was a sterilite box. So just need a size. Thanks guys!
Hi there! It’s 24L X 16W X 7H
The link for the LED lights takes you to lights that have two rolls? Do you need both rolls or is one sufficient?
One is probably enough
The link for the LED lights is a set of two rolls of lights. Are two rolls needed or is one sufficient?
One is probably enough
I love this idea! I found a set of 60 LED lights for $8. Does it need to be a larger set of lights to be bright enough? I’m all about finding things for cheap, but I want it to work! Thanks!
I think that would probably work but can’t say for sure
Where do you store the light table activities? Do you set the activity out on the table that you want them to do each day or allow them to choose?
Love your blog, and this veteran teacher is getting some great fresh ideas from you!! Do you stick the LED lights to the bottom of the tote with the adhesive, or just place them in bunched up? Thanks in advance.
They are just placed in the bottom.
I am totally obsessed with your blog. I’m looking forward to doing centers next year! We’ve already built a shelf to hold my literacy tubs and our next project (I mean my husband’s project ha) is the pocket chart stand! Thanks for sharing your great ideas and webinars! I always look forward to them.
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