  We entertain the use of light dependent resistors as a viable option as
measuring sensors in optics laboratory experiments or classroom demonstrations.
The main advantages of theses devices are essentially very low cost, easy
handling and commercial availability which can make them interesting for
instructors with limited resources. Simple calibration procedures were
developed indicating a precision of $\sim 5\% $ for illuminance measurements.
Optical experiments were carried out as proof of feasibility for measurements
of reflected and transmitted light and its quality results are presented. In
particular, the sensor measurements allowed to verify the angular distribution
of a Lambertian reflective material, to observe transmitted and reflected
specular light on a glass slab as function of the incoming angle of a light
beam, and to estimate glass refractive index with values averaging
$1.51\pm0.06$ in satisfactory agreement with the expected 1.52 value.
