Circuit Art

​Some time back I introduced my students to play dough circuits. I did this to help them understand circuit basics. I was hoping that some of them would want to challenge themselves in creating art that incorporated circuits. I had a 3rd grade boy that wanted to make his robot light up this week. So, we got to work. This is how we did it. 

Supplies:
LED Lights
Copper Tape
Electrical Tape
3V Disc Batteries
Cardboard
Box Cutters
Scissors 

Student placed copper tape for the LED lights.

#1 Figure out placement for the LED light and battery. Place two lines of copper tape for the negative and positive currents.
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#2 Construct a battery holder. My student figured out how to place his copper tape and where the battery should go. I had to help with this part. I cut two pieces of cardboard. One piece fits the battery nice and snug. The other piece will just hold the battery in place. 

Trace the battery on two pieces of cardboard.

One cardboard should be a snug fit. The other piece should not fit the battery but just expose it.

Checking the placement of the snug fitting cardboard over the copper tape.

Created a hinge with copper tape to act a button over the battery.

​#3 Next, I had to configure the placement for the battery holder over one of the copper lines. The other copper line will have a hinge that will become a button. I used a small rectangular piece of cardboard to create the button. I added copper tape the back of the hinge. (Remember to not let the copper lines touch each other!) 

Add the LED light with electrical tape and test.

It works!

#4 I added the LED light with some electrical tape. (Remember the longer end is positive!) 
Test it before moving on. 

Finish taping up. Tape the small battery holder over the battery to hold it in place.

I recommend buying the supplies from Amazon. The LED lights are pretty cheap and it made it easy to have everything delivered to me. I keep my LED lights in a jewelry box to keep them organized. 
I am wondering what my students are going to come up with next.