Paper Circuits!
This year’s summer reading theme is science. A fun, simple and affordable summer reading programming idea — that involves electricity — might be paper circuits. These activities incorporate LED lights to traditional paper crafts — and give kids a hands-on learning opportunity on what it takes to conduct electricity.
Supplies:
- LED Lights
- A battery
–Coin cell battery - A battery holder (optional)
- Something to conduct electricity
– Copper tape (as in sample)
– or Aluminum tape
– or Graphite
Supplies needed. - Scotch tape
- A picture
Instructions
Make: has super fun LED pop up card ideas (and I have some basic instructions below).
Kids are amazing explorers. It might be fun for them if the science is explained, and then they are allowed to play and design the activity to work. Some kids might excel, some might struggle. You’ll be amazed out how the kids who figure it out fast will quickly turn and start helping others. And it’s always fun to see the creative approaches kids take to solve problems!
Vague instructions can be a good thing. Explain to kids the way electricity works — with a battery and 1 LED in hand. Let them play with the items while you lead them to figure it out. Then, introduce more “variables” – conductive materials and more LED’s. Next, work it into a design. And if you have time, add in how to make a simple switch.
More instructions + Video on Make: >>
Photo Guide
