My plan
Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Illuminated Art Card with a Paper Circuit

Apr 28, 20154,194 views
Science
Make an illuminated card using a paper circuit Save
circuit Save
DSC_1006 Save

by TurkeyMom in Science

Ages6+
Prep—
Activity—
Levelmedium
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group

Build a simple paper circuit from copper wire, LED lights and a coin cell battery on the back of a child's artwork so the LEDs shine through as glowing details, like the stars in a 'Starry Night' painting.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Coin cell (button) batteries are extremely dangerous if swallowed. An adult hands them out, collects spares, and keeps them away from younger siblings and anyone who mouths objects. Get medical help right away if one may have been swallowed.
  • LED legs have sharp pin-like ends. Adults should supervise when kids poke them through paper.
  • Adults supervise the whole build, and finished cards with batteries stay out of reach of small children.

Before the kids arrive

  • Gather the circuit supplies. Copper wiring and LED lights may have to be purchased.
  • Have the artwork finished and dry before building the circuit. A painting your child already made works great.

Steps

  1. Pick or make a piece of art on heavy paper. Ours was a 'Starry Night' painting made at school.

  2. Choose the spots where you want lights to shine, like the stars in the sky.

  3. With an adult's help, place an LED at each spot so the bulb shows on the front of the art.

  4. On the back, tape the LEDs down and connect them with copper wire and conductor wire to the cell to make a basic circuit.

  5. Adult: tape the coin cell in place on the back and check that it is secure.

  6. Turn the art over and watch it light up. Starry Night comes alive!

Tips

  • We purchased extra lights to make the art pop even more.from the author
  • Use art your child already made. We had the LED lights pop in the place of the stars in my daughter's 'Starry Night' painting.from the author

Make it your own

  • Use the heavy paper to create brand-new art designed around where the lights will go.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · April 2015
DSC_1006
We were sent materials for a fun circuit activity: copper wires, LED lights and a cell. We purchased extra lights to make the art pop even more.
1 / 4

Illuminated Art Card with a Paper Circuit: the original post

Many thanks to Galileo Learning for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to think like a innovator! We are just a month away from summer! End of the school year initially means a giant sigh of relief, yes? No more “brainstorming” lunches, drop offs, pick ups, school work, homework, assignments, book reports for a good 3 month period. Except this “yahoo” moment lasts probably a week. Then we start thinking about the days and days we have to engage the kids until school year begins. Well, now I’m all for having the kids figure out their summer schedule. Go out, bike, play, hike, explore like we did during our childhood. Unfortunately we live in a different world now! How many of us can honestly go all morning without checking in on our kids. While having the kids come up with their own ways to fill up their summer time, it is also beneficial to make sure they don’t get into a summer slump! This is where Galileo Summer Camps come in. With facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, these guys know all the ways to keep kids from Prek to 8th grade engaged and learning. The camps encourages the natural curiosity of children and creates a fun environment for them to follow their interests. To prevent your child’s “summer slump” how about taking a look at what Galileo Summer Camps has to offer? Some of the highlights of their camps

  • Hands on Approach
  • Focus on S.T.E.A.M
  • Love for learning
  • Follow the campers’ passion

This year the summer camp feature four fresh themes, each adapted for three different age groups:

  1. GALILEO ROCKS: Music-Inspired Art and Instrument Engineering
  2. DESTINATION SAN FRANCISCO: Art and Engineering in the City by the Bay
  3. GALILEO MAKERS: DIY Art and Real-World Inventions
  4. MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION: Himalayan Art and the Science of Scaling Mountains To feature in today’s post and to give you a snap shot of all the awesome hands on activities the campers will be doing, we were sent materials for a fun circuit activity. We made illuminated cards.

DSC_1006

We were sent an instruction page { link below} and we created a basic circuit using copper wires, LED lights and a cell. We purchased extra lights to make the art pop even more. The kit came with 2 heavy paper as well for the kids to create art. However my daughter had a “Starry Night” art she made at school. We used the instructions to make a circuit and have the LED light pop in the place of the stars. Starry Night comes alive!!

circuit

Lit up Starry Night

PicMonkey Collage Make use these clear step-by-step tutorial to make your own illuminated card. These downloadable PDFS page has additional set of activities that you can do with your child. Extra S.T.E.M fun! Included in the pdf will be a material list and GIA (Galileo Innovation Approach) based Instructions to create you own Illuminated card (please note that this project requires some items that may have to be purchased to complete - copper wiring / led lights -).

Download the PDFs here If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then this AWESOME deal is for you. SAVE $30 when you sign up for Camp Galileo, Galileo Summer Quest or Summer Camps @ The Tech. ELimited to one use per family. Not valid in combination with additional offers or on previous purchases. Offer valid through 5/31. Limited to one use per family. Not valid in combination with additional offers or on previous purchases. Offer valid through 5/31.*

What readers say

No comments yet. Be the first to tell us how it went.

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Similar activities

Pumpkin Fizzy Art

40 min3–8 yrs

Lemon Suds Eruptions

40 min2–7 yrs

Rainbow Lemon Eruptions Salt Tray

40 min3–8 yrs

Fizzing Color Mixing

40 min2–6 yrs
🛒 Materials