The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
TinkerCad and Building Basic Circuits
TinkerCad:
Building Basic Circuits
A 7-12 Grade STEM Lesson
Raquel Diaz
May 2024
Electronics are Everywhere
Notes for Teachers
The purpose of this project is to have students learn how to build a basic electronic circuit using TinkerCad.
TinkerCad Online tool is free and is directly connected to Arduino Circuits and Components.
List of Materials
Standards
High School Engineering:
STANDARD 4.0 APPLY SCIENTIFIC LAWS AND PRINCIPLES RELEVANT TO ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
4.1 Use the relationship among energy, work, and power to solve a variety of problems involving mechanical, fluid, electrical, and thermal systems
4.4 Analyze relevant properties of materials used in engineering projects [i.e., chemical, environmental, mechanical (tension, compression, torque), electrical, physical, etc.]
High School Physics:
Essential HS.P4U1.8
Engage in argument from evidence that the net change of energy in a system is always equal to the total energy exchanged between the system and the surroundings.
Plus HS+Phy.P4U1.8
Use mathematics and computational
thinking to explain the relationships
between power, current, voltage, and
resistance.
Objectives:
The objective of this project is to design and construct a closed circuit which utilizes a resistor, battery and a simulator. Once a student becomes confident they can replicate the simulated circuit using real circuit components.
Agenda
Lesson 1 - Review how to evaluate Series and Parallel Circuits. Students will use the Online Circuit Tool “Tinkercad” to learn about circuits.
Lesson 2 - Students will learn how to change components in a circuit.
Lesson 3 - Students will learn how to connect wires to create an electrical circuit.
Days 7-14 Have students begin to build the circuits using real components such as found in Arduino Starter kits. ($110). Elegoo Starter Kit begins as $60 which is 100% compatible.
Compare the two circuits. What do you notice?
A
B
C
D
Series Circuit means all current generated by the battery (voltage source) moves along the same path.
Parallel Circuit means the current generated by the battery (voltage source) moves through two separate paths.
A
B
C
D
Pre-Preparation for Teacher and Students
Overview of Circuit Building utilizing the components in a Arduino Starter Kit.
How does TinkerCad Online Tool replicate an Arduino Starter Kit? (i.e. all basic circuit kits!)
Tinkercad Online Tool Introduction - 6 Lessons
Hint: All teachers, Optional for students, but best if teacher teaches this to the students.
What is the Arduino Starter Kit?
How do I use the Arduino Simulator?
What materials can we use?
Think about size of the groups formed.
Set Up Tinkercad Account
Using the Learning Center
Set up your Tinkercad Account.
Students should use their personal or school email and passwords. One they will remember best.
Teachers can set up classrooms and provide a class code.
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 1 First Circuit
Your goal today is to notice how a series circuit is built using a simulator called Tinkercad. You will use a button called “Start Simulation” to activate the circuit.
The battery used in the first circuit is a CR2032 (3V) and the resistor is used to minimize sending too much voltage to the LED.
The LED is a light emitting diode which turns on when it receives voltage and a ground signal.
Learning Center:
Press on this link:
Lesson 2 Editing Components
Your goal today is to take an existing circuit press the “Start Simulation” to make sure the circuit works. You will be instructed to edit the circuit and make changes as needed.
Learning Center:
Press on this link: Editing Components
Lesson 2 Editing Components (Continued)
Step through the instructions of the lesson by pressing on the Blue Button on the bottom left corner “Next”.
Lesson 3 Wiring Components
Your goal is to learn to connect wires to provide power (Voltage(V)) to a circuit and create an electrical connection!
If successful you will make an electronic piano.
Good Luck!
Press on this link: Wiring Components
Congratulations!
You have successfully completed your introduction to building, testing, changing components and adding wires.
If you choose to extend the existing lessons in the Learning center.
Learning Center Link:
Tinkercad Learning Center
Assessment
Option 1: Teacher can choose to continue the lessons 4-24 in the Tinkercad learning center. Students would demonstrate completion of each assignment to the teacher before moving to next lesson.
Option 2: Teacher will have the student continue to complete lessons 4-24 but in parallel, build the circuit using real components. Arduino or Elegoo Starter kits are recommended for the “real” circuits.
Option 3: Students will use the following TinkerCad Building Circuits Project which will lead the students to build a “real Circuit. Assessment can be regular progress checks and/or a final presentation to the classroom.
Link to all Project Content: TinkerCad Building Circuits Project.
Differentiation
Review Series and Parallel Circuits.
Here’s a great video:
Have students create series and parallel circuits with just 2 LEDs rather than 3 LEDs.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Challenge students to add extra features to their circuits.