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ScienceEngineering

Little Lighthouse Keepers

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Grades K-230-40 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids build a mini lighthouse with a mirror-boosted beam and guide paper boats safely to harbor using only their light. A hands-on way to explore how light travels and reflects.

Budget levels

Materials list coming soon to members

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only. $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately.

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Full Experience

Up to $25 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, priced per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 30 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 10 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or a small area of floor spaceBeginner-friendly

Setup

Gather cardboard tubes, flashlights, foil or mirrors and clear a small work surface. Read the Little Lighthouse Keepers mission aloud, then place the supplies where children can choose and compare them safely.

Activity

  1. Talk about why lighthouses shine a light to guide boats safely, and predict how a mirror might help send light farther.
  2. Build a small lighthouse tower from a cardboard tube with a flashlight and a foil or mirror reflector taped inside.
  3. Aim the light at a paper boat across the room and find the beam scatters, then angle the mirror to focus a clearer path of light.
  4. Guide the paper boat safely to harbor using only the lighthouse beam and describe how the mirror helped.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: Children complete the core mission and the paper boat safely to harbor using only the lighthouse beam and describe how the mirror helped.

Materials

flashlight, small mirrors, paper boats, cardboard tube, aluminum foil

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Talk about why lighthouses shine a light to guide boats safely, and predict how a mirror might help send light farther.
  2. Build a small lighthouse tower from a cardboard tube with a flashlight and a foil or mirror reflector taped inside.
  3. Aim the light at a paper boat across the room and find the beam scatters, then angle the mirror to focus a clearer path of light.
  4. Guide the paper boat safely to harbor using only the lighthouse beam and describe how the mirror helped.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · 1-PS4-4

    Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.