Perplexing Parallel Paper Circuit
Let your students explore the nature of science and use the science practices when they build this paper circuit and explore the rules that govern which LEDs will light at the same time and which ones will not. Extend their learning into constructing an explanation as you challenge them to provide a claim, supported by evidence, and including scientific reasoning. Download the Perplexing Paper Circuit Teacher Slide Deck (after videos below) to see how you can also incorporate prediction with the addition of an orange LED into the mix after students have tinkered with the initial circuit.
Perplexing Circuit – Hopefully you don’t need to use this video because students are building these themselves and exploring how they work. This is here just in case you want to use it as a hook initially.
Perplexing Circuit Build Directions – demonstrates how to build the circuit and calls out some pitfalls to beware of while constructing the circuit.
Perplexing Parallel Paper Circuit – Teacher Slide Deck (Google Slides Version of Teacher Slide Deck can be found HERE.)
Perplexing Parallel Paper Circuit – Nature of Science Paper Circuit Lesson
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab Lesson in Action Gallery – Reviews and pictures from teachers who have put this lesson into practice.
“I sent home the materials and all of 4th grade joined me on Zoom today! It was so much fun! The kids were so into the lesson. I gave them time to play and discover with the lights and they started coming up with the rules and trying to figure out the why. They are going to bring their materials back on Monday and Tuesday because they want to play with it some more!” – 4th Grade Teacher
