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Haunted House Paper Circuit STEM Challenge

A 6th grade STEM lesson

Author: Misty Schreiber

Date: 4/11/2023

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Notes for teachers

Context: This is a multi-day lesson using the engineering design process where students will learn to build circuits. These circuits will use LED lights or motors to emphasize parts of a haunted house.

Students work in groups of 2 or 3.

Students will showcase their process and final designs for an audience.

List of Materials

Circuits

copper tape
led lights
coin batteries
optional: battery pack with red & black wire leads
optional: motors

Haunted House

cardboard
tape; masking, duct
glue/hot glue
other building materials (cans, tubes, felt, etc.)
small decorations that fit the theme (Halloween, Fall, spooky)

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Standards

6.P4U2.5 Analyze how humans use technology to store (potential) and/or use (kinetic) energy.

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
use mathematical and computational thinking
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Standards

6.RI.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

6.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one‐on‐one, in groups, and teacher‐led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Objective(s):

Students will be able to create a paper circuit using copper tape, batteries, and LED lights.

Students will be able to use the Engineering Design Process to plan, build, test, and evaluate a haunted house with multiple circuits.

Students will be able to present their haunted house and circuits to peers and reflect on their design.

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Agenda (Approximately 4 - 1 hour sessions)

What is an electric circuit?

Create a paper circuit picture.

Engineering a haunted house with circuits.

Present & Share

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What is an electric circuit?

In electronics, a circuit is a complete circular path that electricity flows through. A simple circuit consists of a current source, conductors and a load. The term circuit can be used in a general sense to refer to any fixed path that electricity, data or a signal can travel through.

Ask students to look at the pictures and discuss what they see.

If possible give time for students to explore with Snap Circuits.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions (part 1)

This is an independent activity where each student will create their own paper circuit picture.

Templates & Step-by-step Instructions

I use these to start and then allow my students to make their own picture once they get the idea of it.

Paper Circuits

A paper circuit is a low-voltage electronic circuit that is created on paper or cardboard using conductive copper tape, LEDs and a power source such as a coin-cell battery. Creating paper circuits is a good way to teach the basics of electricity and how circuits function.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions (part 2)

This is a group project (2-3 students).

Haunted House Paper Circuit Design Challenge

I created this document to help my students through the process. It contains everything you need to work through the process, including the constraints, planning pages, peer reflection & more.

Haunted House Paper Circuit Design Challenge

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Assessment

Haunted House:

Did students meet the constraints of the project?
Peer feedback & reflection sheet

Presentation:

Can students describe what a paper circuit is and how they incorporated it into their designs?
Can students explain how they used the engineering design process throughout the project?

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Differentiation

One way to differentiate this activity is to provide “maps” to students who are struggling to create a closed circuit. The constraints can also be modified or changed depending on the students/class and their ability.

Teachers can provide video links or pictures to students who are struggling with the brainstorming or designing part of this challenge.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students who complete the paper circuits easily, can begin to play with a motor and try to implement a moving object into their design. They can also add additional circuits, different types of circuits, or create switches to trigger a decoration or event.

I challenge students to create a light that turns on and off when a door opens or closes.