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In this technology activity, learners light up the room with electrifying play dough creations. Learners use conductive and insulating homemade play dough to build simple circuits. Learners then build a battery-powered creature that can light up and/or buzz.
- 45 to 60 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- Over $20 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- mixing bowl
- wooden mixing spoon
- saucepan
- hot plate or stove
- 2 airtight containers
- measuring cups/spoons
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup salt
- 3 tbsp. cream of tartar
- 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
- food coloring
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. granulated alum
- ½ cup deionized or distilled water
- 4 AA batteries or 1 9V
- battery holder or connector
- 4 to 8 LEDs, 1.9–2.4 V / 20 mA–40 mA
- paper and pencil
- electric buzzers 2V (optional)
- aluminum foil (optional)
- switch (optional)
- wire terminals (optional)
- soldering iron (optional)
- assorted craft supplies (optional)
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Technology
-
Engineering
-
Physical Sciences
-
Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Charges and Currents
- Electric Circuits
- Energy
-
Vibration and Waves
- Light and Optics
- Structure and Properties of Matter
-
Electricity and Magnetism
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Research and Development
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Arts and Crafts
- Electronics
- Toys
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- hear
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
-
Girls
- Explicity developed for this group
- Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
- Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2010
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0813519
- ExxonMobil