How to Make an Electrical Circuit Board

Simple circuit boards teach children how electricity works.

Circuits conduct electricity along pathways to key points in their simplest form. In a building, key points are lights, appliances and computers. Devices such as computers and medical equipment use very complicated electrical circuits with tiny connections. Everyday appliances, such as radios or televisions, use simpler versions that are slightly easier to replicate.You can create a simple electrical circuit to learn about electric pathways and conductivity.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Paperclips
• Alligator clip wires
• 9 volt batteries
• Lightbulb holder

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of cardboard about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. Slide five metal (not plastic-covered) paperclips along one long side of the cardboard, spacing them about an inch apart. Repeat on the other side, making sure the paperclips are directly across from each other.

2. Clip an alligator clip wire to a paperclip on the left side of the board. Clip the other end to a paperclip on the right side of the board. You don't have to connect the paperclips directly across from each other. Just make sure each wire is clipped to two separate paperclips.

3. Clip an alligator clip wire to the last left paperclip and a second wire to the last right paperclip. Clip the left alligator wire to the negative terminal on a 9 volt battery. Clip the other alligator clip wire to one of the clips on a lightbulb holder. These holders are flat plastic sockets that hold low-watt bulbs for science projects.

4. Clip a final alligator clip wire between the battery's positive terminal and the lightbulb holder's free clip. The bulb should light.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the board into a quiz game. Place questions on cards under the clips on the left side of the board and the answers on the right. Mix the answers up. Make sure the alligator clip wires stretch between the correct questions and answers on the underside of the circuit board.

References

• MSI Chicago: Make a Circuit Board
• MS Nucleus: Students Make Their Own Circuit Boards