In this assignment, students will use their knowledge of simple and parallel circuits to design and build a picture or card with a working light-up component.  Students will need to work collaboratively and problem solve to accomplish this task.  Through lots of trial and error students gain a much better understanding of conductors, switches, the semiconducting properties of LED bulbs, parallel circuits, and short circuits. 

Supplies needed

This activity does require some specialized supplies will need to be ordered in advance.  Paper circuit starter kits its can be ordered at Makerspaces.com.

These kits come with 10 batteries, 25 LED lights, and one roll of copper tape.  

In addition, free paper circuit card templates can be downloaded at https://www.makerspaces.com/250-makerspace-resources-free-ebook/

Materials can also be purchased separately.  Some options for obtaining these resources are provided.  

1/4 inch Copper foil tape with conductive adhesive

500 piece LED Diode Lights Assortment Kit

40 piece CR2032 3V Coin Button Batteries

Teacher instructions

Show students some examples of paper circuits such as those found at the Makerspaces.com blog.  I recommend that you make several of your own paper circuits before doing these with students so that you can help students trouble-shoot their own designs and so that you can better understand the properties of the materials that you'll be working with.  This will also give you a couple of "real-life" samples to show students.  

Safety- Caution students that the copper tape can be sharp on the edges, so they should be careful when handling it.  Also, discuss the fact that button batteries should never be put into their mouths as they can cause serious injury if ingested. 

Trouble-shooting: If the LED bulb does not light, check to be sure that it is properly oriented so that the negative side of the battery is connected to the negative side of the battery and the positive side is connected to the positive part of the battery.  Also, check for short circuits.  The electrons will flow along the path of least resistance, so there has to be a gap in the copper tape to force the electrons to flow through the LED bulb.