LIGHTNING BUG

PAPER CIRCUITS
 DISCOVER.MAKE.
WHAT IS STEAM?
STEAM is the abbreviation for
Scien ce, Technology, Engineering,
PLAY.LEARN.
Art, & Math. WHAT’S INSIDE:
It’s an integrated approach to
learning that encourages studen LIGHTNING BUG PAPER CIRCUITS
ts
to think more broadly about real- Bring the joy of lightning bugs (aka fireflies) to your next
world problems. crafting session with this fun, light-up circuit project.
Why do we need the A in STEAM? Inside this template are:
Because art makes STEM better • A full-color lightning bug circuit card template
!
Here are some of the concrete • A black and white lightning bug circuit card template
benefits of incorporating the art
s ready to be colored by the kids
into science:
• Easy-to-follow instructions for constructing the card
• It helps remove idea inhibition • Helpful circuit diagram that makes linking the bulb to
(there’s no wrong answer in the battery easy
art!). • What’s the STEAM Behind It? section that explains how
• It focuses on the process which lightning bugs get their glow
helps drive innovation.
• It teaches the power of
observation, of people and your
surroundings. What is ?
• It helps hone spatial awarenes
s
and mathematical concepts like This activity is a sneak peek into the STEAM Explorers
geometry. subscription. STEAM Explorers is a monthly digital
magazine plus kid-safe online project portal filled with

SAFETY FIRST!
STEAM. Each issue has a monthly activity calendar, fun
articles to read, jokes to tell, projects to do, printables to
STEAM Explorers projects are color, & more. Kids will love making, playing, discovering,
intended to be perfor med under adult & learning their way through each month’s issue!
supervision. Although Color by
Coding is a low risk activity, we like You can learn more about STEAM Explorers here:
to leave this here... Appropriate leftbraincraftbrain.com/exploresteam
and reasonable caution is
recommended when activities
call for any items that could be of How to Join the STEAM Explorers
risk, including, but not limited to:
sharp tools, hot glue, chemicals, & Left Brain Craf t Brain Community
batteries, scissors, and small g
items that could present a chokin STEAM Explorers (and Left Brain Craft Brain, too) is
hazard. If you are unsure of the a global community! Come get activity ideas, chat
safety or age appropriateness of about STEAM, and share your pictures with us on both
an activity, please consult your Facebook and Instagram. We love to see all of the ways
child’s doctor. you incorporate STEAM into your kids’ worlds!
Except for individual classroom use, no part of this book
may be reproduced or used, in any form or by any means,
Left Brain Craf t Brain Facebook Page
electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in
writing from the publisher and authors. For permissions
contact [email protected].
Left Brain Craf t Brain on Instagram
Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain
 LIGHTNING BUG CIRCUIT CARD
Make a card full of the world’s
favorite glowing bugs!
DIFFICULTY:
TIME: 30 MINUTES
SUPPLIES:
• Printable template
• White cardstock
• Colored pencils or markers (optional)
• 1/4” copper tape
• CR 2032 coin cell battery
• 5 mm LED bulb
• Small binder clip

SAFETY NOTE: ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED.

COIN CELL BATTERIES POSE EXTREME SWALLOWING
HAZARDS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED WITH OR
AROUND YOUNG CHILDREN.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Print out template on white card stock. Color if
using the black and white template. Fold card in
half along dotted line.
2. With a pin, poke a hole through each black dot
on the lightning bug tail (the dots are white on
the full color version) all the way through to the
circuit diagram.
3. Insert LED with the positive lead (the longer
one) in the left hole and the negative lead (the
shorter one) in the right hole. Bend leads so the
bulb is flat to the paper and the leads follow the
circuit lines.
4. Tape along the circuit lines with copper tape,
making sure there are no breaks in the tape
except at the LED and at the battery.
5. Place battery on the grey circle, negative
terminal side down, and fold the card at the
dotted corner line. Secure with a binder clip.

WHAT’S THE STEAM BEHIND IT?

Lightning bugs, also known as fireflies, get their
glow from bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is
the production and emission of light by a living
organism. Fireflies get their glow from a compound
called luciferin. Light is generated when oxygen
reacts with it and an enzyme called luciferase.
Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain
 Instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. 1.Print
Foldoutcard in half
template on along dotted
white card line.
stock. Fold card in half along
2.dotted
With aline.
pin, poke a hole through each black dot on the
2. lightning
With a pin,bug
poketail
a holeall the way
through through
each white dot
to on circuit
thethe lightning
bug tail, all the way through to the circuit diagram.
diagram.
3. 3. Insert
Insert LED with
LED with positive
the the lead (the
positive longer
lead (theone) in the
longer one) hole
leftin
and the negative lead (the shorter one) in the
the left hole and the negative lead (the shorter one) in right hole. Bend
the leads so the
right bulb
hole. is flat
Bend leads paper
to theso and the
the bulb isleads
flat follow
to thethe
circuit lines.
paper and the leads follow the circuit lines.
4. Tape along the circuit lines with copper tape, making sure there
4.areTape
no along
breaksthein thecircuit lines
tape except atwith
the LEDcopper
and attape there
the battery.
are no breaks in the tape except at the the LED and at the
5. Place battery on the grey circle, negative terminal side down,
battery.
and fold the card at the dotted corner line. Secure with a binder
Place battery on grey circle, negative terminal side
5. clip.
down and fold the card at the dotted corner line. Secure
with a binder clip.

LED
LED +

Battery
BATTERY
(negative
(negativeside
side down)
down)

Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain

 Instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. 1.Print
Foldoutcard in half
template on along dotted
white card stockline.
and color. Fold card in
2.half
With along dotted
a pin, poke line.
a hole through each black dot on the
With a pin,
2. lighning poke
bug a hole
tail allthrough
the wayeach black dot
through on the
to the lightning
circuit
bug tail, all the way through to the circuit diagram.
diagram.
3. 3.Insert
Insert LED with
LED with positive
the the lead (the
positive longer
lead (theone) in the
longer one) hole
leftin
and the negative lead (the shorter one) in the
the left hole and the negative lead (the shorter one) in right hole. Bend
theleads
rightso the bulb
hole. is flat
Bend leads paper
to theso and the
the bulb isleads
flat follow
to thethe
circuit lines.
paper and the leads follow the circuit lines.
4. Tape along the circuit lines with copper tape, making sure there
Tape
4.are no along
breaksthe
in thecircuit lines
tape except atwith
the LEDcopper
and attape there
the battery.
are no breaks in the tape except at the the LED and at the
5. Place battery on the grey circle, negative terminal side down,
battery.
and fold the card at the dotted corner line. Secure with a binder
5. clip.
Place battery on grey circle, negative terminal side
down and fold the card at the dotted corner line. Secure
with a binder clip.

LED
LED +

Battery
BATTERY
(negative
(negative side down)
side down)

Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain

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