Building a circuit to light up an LED is a simple as sliding the diode’s wires over a coin battery! Learning how electricity works in a safe, playful environment is a fun way to increase curiosity and confidence in working on electrical and electronic systems. Knowledge of simple battery-run DC systems can also help with visualization and troubleshooting car and boat wiring circuits and systems.
Teachers: this simple electrical investigation project also offers students an endless opportunity for applied design (a key curricular competency from both the ADST and science curricula in BC). Now that they have a tiny light, where can they imagine installing it? Could they use it to illuminate a toy or picture? Could it be used it as a flashlight or indicator light? For more advanced grades, you could have students designing switches to turn their light on and off, or they could incorporate the simple LED circuit into a device that solves a problem in their life. (Can it be used to light up the dark space in a cupboard? Could a series of several LEDs illuminate or indicate a path through a garden?)
Store your coin batteries in their original packaging so as not to accidentally create short circuits (which can result in battery damage or a fire hazard). Coin batteries are also harmful if swallowed; keep them away from pets and babies.
Teachers: this simple electrical investigation project also offers students an endless opportunity for applied design (a key curricular competency from both the ADST and science curricula in BC). Now that they have a tiny light, where can they imagine installing it? Could they use it to illuminate a toy or picture? Could it be used it as a flashlight or indicator light? For more advanced grades, you could have students designing switches to turn their light on and off, or they could incorporate the simple LED circuit into a device that solves a problem in their life. (Can it be used to light up the dark space in a cupboard? Could a series of several LEDs illuminate or indicate a path through a garden?)
Store your coin batteries in their original packaging so as not to accidentally create short circuits (which can result in battery damage or a fire hazard). Coin batteries are also harmful if swallowed; keep them away from pets and babies.
Tools & Materials
Material List
- two or three lithium coin batteries (CR2032, CR2016 or similar)
- two or three LEDs (3mm or 5mm, assorted colours)
- electrical tape
- craft supplies such as construction paper, origami paper, paint, felt pens, cardboard, tape, paper towel tubes, etc.
Optional:
Tool list
- Just your hands!
Procedure
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Troubleshooting: Does your LED not light up? Try a new battery. Try a new LED. Flip the battery around. Try bending the LED wires so they make better connection with the battery.
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Make something fun with your lit-up LEDs! Use a wrap of electrical tape to hold your LED wires in place on the battery, then use it in one of the following projects.
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Do you like collage and painting? Make a “stained-glass" lantern: paste scraps of colourful tissue paper onto an empty glass jar using white glue and a paintbrush. Place your lit-up LED inside and let it shine!
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Do you like boats? Make a boat model and use lit-up LEDs for port (red) and starboard (green) navigation lights.
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Do you like sculpture? Use toilet paper tubes to make a house or dragon or robot or creature, decorate it, then cut or poke holes and insert your lit-up LED, hiding the battery inside the tube. The LEDs can become light-up eyes, or windows, or buttons - whatever you can imagine!
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Do you like play acting or dressing up? Make a cardboard crown, decorate it, then poke holes and insert lit-up LEDs to make light-up jewels!
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Can you think of other places you could be creative with your LED and battery?
Project Ideas:
Extension Challenges
- Design a new light-up toy using what you know about LEDs and batteries.
- Make a switch mechanism that can turn your LED on and off so you don’t have to take the LED and battery apart each time.
- Design a device that uses a lit-up LED to solve a problem in your daily life (is that hall closet too dark to find anything in?), or develop an imaginary or real product you could market to people (do dogs need light-up collars for night walks?).