Breadboard Lanterns

Non-Consumables (per student / per group)

• RGB LED (min. 1)
• 1K resistor (min. 1)
• Electrical wires
• 5V or 9V Battery
• Battery Clip
• Mini Breadboard

Consumables (per student/group):

• Tape
• Scissors
• Cardboard  
• Recyclables

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Ask:

Design and create a lantern!  

Research:

An Introduction to Breadboarding will be required to complete this lesson.  

Breadboards: reusable circuits that are great for prototyping & experimentation with circuits!  

Metal rods within breadboard connect rows and columns. Red and blue lines show power rails (that connect to the battery). They run vertically.  

Red - > Batteries Positive Wire

Blue/Black -> Batteries Negative Wire  

DC Circuits:

• Power supply, resistors,  switches, light bulbs, inductors & capacitors
• Voltage (V or 𝜀): there is potential energy somewhere
• Resistors allow for current flow
• Current can’t flow if switch is open

Circuits in Series

• LED’s only allow electricity to pass through in ONE direction
• Longer leg is “positive”
• Shorter leg is “negative”

Circuits in Parallel

• Current is split into different paths

Plan

Give students a set amount of time to plan.  

• What kind of circuit will they create? How many LED’s do they plan to use? How many resistors will they need? What do they want the physical lantern to look like?

Build/Create

Give students a set amount of time to build.

Mount the breadboard into the box in any manner they wish. Tape the breadboard down, then tape the box closed.

Ensure the battery stays outside the box (for safety).

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