The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Circuit Cards

Circuit Cards

A 7th-8th grade STEM lesson

Author

Susin Hall

Date

July 26, 2023

Notes for teachers

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*I did this first in an afternoon class and students finished in the allotted time of about 80 minutes. I tried to do all in a 45 minute class and only a couple students finished. So, ideally at least 60 minutes would be helpful if giving students design and create time.

*I used this lesson for an enrichment camp and an after-school grant class for kids to make cards to someone important in his/her life. (see slide 7 notes for some info.)

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List of POSSIBLE Materials

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• 3mm or 5mm LED diode lights (5 colors assorted pack or white)
• 3v Coin Cell Batteries (such as the CR2032)
• Copper Conductive Adhesive Tape (0.25 inch x 33 ft)
• Paper (cardstock, copy paper, note cards, etc.)
• Scissors
• Transparent tape
• Binder Clips (small, about ¾ inch wide)
• Colored pencils, pens or markers
• Paper Clips
• Brass Paper Fasteners
• Stickers

AZ Standards

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Science and Engineering Practices

(a dimension of the Arizona Science Standards)

• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• construct explanations and design solutions
• obtain, evaluate and communicate information

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Physical Science

8.P4U2.5 Develop a solution to increase efficiency when transferring energy from one source to another.

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Standards for Mathematical Practices

MP.5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

MP.6 Attend to precision.

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Math

7.G.A.2 Draw geometric shapes with given conditions using a variety of methods. Focus on constructing triangles from three measures of angles or sides, noticing when the conditions determine a unique triangle, more than one triangle, or no triangle.

8.G.A.1 Verify experimentally the properties of rotations, reflections, and translations. Properties include: lines are taken to lines, line segments are taken to line segments of the same length, angles are taken to angles of the same measure, parallel lines are taken to parallel lines.

Objective:

Today students will create a card that incorporates a circuit design to add a light component.

Agenda (about 60-90 minutes)

• Bell Work - about 5-10 minutes
• Hands-on Activity - anywhere from 40-80 minutes depending on how much time you have.
• Closure - about 5 minutes

Please make a circle/oval in the center of your paper and print your first and last name inside of this circle/oval.

Your Name

Sample Card Designs

What are three things an electric circuit must have?

An energy source –

like a coin cell battery.

An energy receiver –

like a LED diode light.

An energy pathway – like copper tape.

Simple Circuit

Simple Circuit

LED light info

Applying Copper Tape

Apply copper tape to all trace lines as marked in brown on the template. Smooth the copper down with your finger. Try to maintain a continuous strip of copper tape versus cutting it at the corners. Fold copper tape at the corners by bending it at a 45′ angle in the opposite direction of where you are going. Then fold it back at a 180′ angle and continue applying to the trace line.

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Individual or Partner Activity
• Optional: Complete slide 7
• Using scratch paper, students design what they want the card front to look like and where they want the light feature to be. I.E. if drawing a birthday cake, maybe one of the candles lights up.
• Once ready, students fold a paper (I used copy paper). See image one on the left.
• Then students draw and create design on front flap of card.
• Once card design is complete, time to create the closed circuit.
• Have students sketch where the battery and LED light will go. Then trace a path for the copper tape. (Image two) on the inside flap behind the front design.

Image One

Image Two

Hands-on Activity Instructions Continued

• Help students apply copper tape if needed. See slide 13 if needed.
• Be sure LED is place correctly with Positive (Long leg) and Negative (Short Leg) legs going in the right direction (Image Three)
• Place battery in correct spot facing correct way. (remember battery should go in corner where we can fold copper tape on top to complete the circuit). Use a small binder clip to hold the connection. (Image Four)
• Troubleshooting: If light isn’t working check that copper tape isn’t ripped anywhere. Battery placed facing right way (positive vs negative)
• Have students share final designs.

Image Three

Image Four

Assessment/Check for Understanding

Identify the three parts needed for a circuit. Label those parts in the image given.

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Differentiation

Provide templates for students struggling to create a circuit path.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

• Have students try and figure out how to make an off and on switch using a paperclip and a paper fasteners.
• Try a Parallel Circuit and bring in math standards involving parallel lines.
• Create a circuit using a triangle path (align to specific math standards)

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