Makey Makey
Craft a Simple Circuit
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Craft a Simple Circuit

Overview

Makey Makey Classic

Products

Grades 4–12

Grade Level

10–15 minutes

Time Required

Beginner Course

Category

Beginner

Difficulty

CSTA Standards

1B-AP-10

CCSS Standards

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP5

Learn how a simple circuit works so you can create your first circuit and light your first LED! Build a paper circuit using conductive tape, an LED, and a coin cell battery.

Learning Goals

  • Understand what a simple circuit is and how current flows in a loop
  • Learn about conductors, insulators, and polarity
  • Identify the positive and negative legs of an LED
  • Build a working paper circuit from a template

Materials & Preparation

Materials Needed

  • Simple Circuit printable template (PDF)
  • Conductive fabric tape or aluminum foil
  • 3V coin cell battery (CR2032)
  • 5mm LED
  • Scissors
  • Scotch tape

Preparation

Print the Simple Circuit template for each student. Have conductive tape pre-cut in strips. Test a sample circuit to confirm LEDs and batteries work.

Build Activity — Step by Step

1

The Most Simple Circuit

Hold an LED directly on a coin cell battery — long leg on positive (+) side. The LED lights up! This is the simplest possible circuit: a closed loop.

2

Check LED Polarity

Identify the long leg (positive/anode) and short leg (negative/cathode). If legs are trimmed, look for the flat spot on the LED rim — it marks the negative side.

3

Place Conductive Tape

Using the printed template, lay conductive fabric tape along the marked orange lines. These traces create the conductive paths for your circuit.

4

Position the LED

Bend the LED legs and place the longer positive leg on the positive trace and the shorter negative leg on the negative trace. Tape the legs down.

5

Add the Battery

Place the coin cell battery positive side down on the template. Fold the paper corner over the battery to connect both traces and complete the circuit.

6

Troubleshoot

If the LED doesn't light: check that traces don't cross (short circuit), verify LED polarity, and make sure the battery contacts are touching the traces.

Assessment

Students demonstrate a working paper circuit and explain current flow from the battery, through the LED, and back. They identify conductors vs. insulators and explain what polarity means.