A fun summer party idea is a back-yard drive-in. You simply need a laptop computer that can play DVD's, a projector that connects to the laptop to project your image onto the screen, and a screen. We borrowed the projector from my husband's office, and made our own screen out of leftover TYVEK house wrap (the kind they put around a house under the siding). We used packing tape to attach the Tyvek to PVC pipe at the top and bottom, and then ran rope through the pipe to hang the screen from hooks on the back of the house. The bottom PVC was narrower, and weighted the screen to keep it straight. For storage we got a large diameter PVC pipe and put a cap on one end and a screw cap on the other end, and just rolled the screen and slid it inside.
You can decide what dimension screen works best for your house - the bigger the screen, the bigger the picture - but if your projector is not that bright you should not try to go too big. Also be aware of "light pollution" from streetlights as that will affect how brightly the movie shows up.
We borrowed a popcorn popper (theater style) for a concession stand, and bought candy as well to serve.
Be sure to have some mosquito repellent available for your guests as well.
We did a fun variation on this at the camp i used to work at during the summers. Just set up the movie by the pool, and have a "DIVE-in movie" ... This was great for large groups of kids or kids of a wide range of ages so if you didn't have a movie everyone wanted to see they could always have fun swimming and still be part of the group. Makes it easy on the chaperones/parents since the kids stay in one place and you don't have to worry as much about summer heat or insects.
Hey this is a cool idea! I teach and have an active board in my classroom. It works on the same principle. Anything I can play or put up on my desktop, I can put up on the active board. During the school year it is fabulous because I can pull up websites, with virtual labs and demos, as well as working on assignments with my students all on the active board. As a treat for hard work towards the end of the school year, we have movie day. My students love it. I just pop the movie disk into my computer, pop some popcorn and make a Jug of juice or koolaide and away we go!!!
Wow--what a novel idea--will show my hubby and son-in-law the idea--I don't have a clue about something attaching to a laptop to project on a screen so everyone can see, but we are in the country, so this would be ideal and be over much earlier than 2 a.m. when our two local drive-ins are done. Hmmm sounds doable with alot of help! haha Annie
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