Geekapalooza 2022

Pipe Cleaner Circuits

In this activity, students learn to complete a circuit using common household craft items while creating a sculpture, wearable object, or other open-ended creation.

!SAFETY NOTES: !

• Coin Cell Batteries can be deadly if swallowed. Please supervise children carefully.
• The ends of pipe cleaners can be sharp, please exercise caution.

Materials (To Create the Circuit)

• Two pipe cleaners (of different colors) - Strip 1 cm of fuzz off each end of pipe cleaner
• 1-2 Paper Clips
• Rubber Band or Masking Tape 
• LED Bulb (3V or less) with anode and cathode legs "curled"
• CR2032 Coin Cell Battery (3V)

Materials (To Embellish your Project)

• Additional Pipe Cleaners
• Beads
• Construction Paper
• Other Craft items

Procedure

1. Wrap the end of one pipe cleaner around the curled leg of the LED bulb.
2. Wrap the end of the other pipe cleaner around the other leg of the LED bulb.
3. Complete the circuit using the button battery by placing the 2 loose ends of the pipe cleaners on either side (+/-) of the button battery. The bulb should light up. If it doesn't, try swapping which pipe cleaner is on the +/- side of the battery as some LED bulbs are polarized. You may need to tape the pipe cleaners to the "legs" of the LED bulb to get a good connection.
4. Tape one of the pipe cleaners to the battery, leaving the other loose so that it can act as your "switch" to turn your creation on/off.
5. Using the other materials, design a sculpture, work of art, or other creation that incorporates your circuit. Make sure that you have access to your "switch" to turn it on/off or replace the battery.

Share your creations on social media and tag us! @steamengineokc or visit us here: https://www.facebook.com/steamengineokc