Paper Circuit Greeting Cards

Students will:

• Understand circuits.
• Be able to use design thinking to create a circuit.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Circuit: A circuit is a complete path around which electricity can flow. It must include a source of electricity, such as a battery.

2. Paper Circuit: 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. 

3. Closed Circuit: A Closed Circuit is a complete electrical circuit around which current flows or a signal circulates Similar Words: loop.

4. Series Circuit: A series circuit is a circuit in which resistors are arranged in a chain, so the current has only one path to take.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Your students will need some circuit background to complete this project. 

• To complete this project the students will need LED Lights, Batteries and Copper Tape. They can be be purchased on Amazon. 

  • LED lights 

  • Copper Tape 

  • BATTERIES

• Here is a good video tutorial and step-by-step instructions by Chibitronics.

• DK Definition of a circuit

• Below are ideas if this is your first time trying this with students:

  • Maker spaces paper circuits is a great resource with FREE Tutorial as well as free templates for cards. 

  • Christmas Cards

  • Halloween Cards

  • General Project Templates

• Here is an advanced project on How to Make a Greeting Card.

• Here is a possible design thinking template.

• Watch the video on  CIRCUITS or follow the tutorial: 

  • 60 Seconds DIY Paper Circuit Tutorial

  • Explaining an Electrical Circuit

• Possible reflection questions.

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. The teacher will say to the students, "We have been talking about circuits in Science. Today you are gonna build a  circuit greeting card."

2. Review circuits with students

   1. Explaining an Electrical Circuit video

   2. DK definition of a circuit 

3. Show the students an example of a sample card that you have created yourself or use one of the videos or tutorials from pre-planning. 

4. Have the students decide who they are creating the card for and what they want the card to do.

5. Use Design thinking template if applicable

6. As students work, many will find that they can code multiple circuits, or if they create their own cards, they can create their own closed circuits.

7. Students will come into issues. It is important that STUDENTS solve the issue. Here are the most common issues:

   1. DO NOT CUT THE COPPER TAPE - This could create a broken circuit. Show students how to fold accordingly around corners.

   2. POSITION OF LED LIGHTS -  Make sure your LED lights are correctly positioned for positive and negative.

   3. POSITION OF BATTERY -  Make sure your battery is positioned ON the copper tape. DO NOT TAPE THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. This will break your circuit.

   4. WATCH YOUR TAPING -  Less means more. Tape down enough to secure but be cautious of how much tape. You don’t want to tape down too much and break the circuit. 

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Students can reflect on the project using this Google Document.
• Students can also share out on SEESAW, Google Classroom, Flipgrid or Schoology.
• Design thinking template