How to Build Light Boards – Electricity Project for Kids

Light boards are fun – and educational too! Include this project in your electricity unit for pure engagement.

Light Board Electricity Project

Ms. Sneed Uses Light Boards to Culminate Her Electricity Unit

Our favorite fourth grade teacher sat with her co-teacher, Mr. Frank. “This electricity unit has been awesome,” she said. “All of the activities and videos engaged our students. Now what can we do as a grand finale?”

“When I was in school,” Mr. Frank replied, “I remember a special electricity project. We built light boards.”

“Tell me more!”

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you.”

Materials

As usual, Mr. Frank headed to the science cabinet. “For the board, we’ll need tagboard, aluminum foil, masking tape, and a paper punch.” He plopped the materials on the table then went to a side table and grabbed an open circuit.

“We can use the same type of tester we used in our conductors and insulators lab.”

Ms. Sneed’s eyes gleamed. “What a cool electricity project!”

To create light boards in your third, fourth, or fifth grade classroom, you'll need 9 x 11" cardstock, aluminum foil, masking tape, a paper punch, and an open circuit (batteries and bulb in holders with wires). It's a relatively simple electricity project with a lot of wow!
Are you feeling “pinspired”? Feel free to pin images from this post.

Preparing the Aluminum Foil for Light Boards

Mr. Frank grabbed a pair of scissors from his desk, then he sat down at the table. “First, we cut strips of aluminum foil slightly narrower than the masking tape.” He snipped a narrow piece of foil with the scissors.

“Second, we adhere the aluminum foil to strips of masking tape.”

When making light boards for kids, cut thin strips of aluminum foil. Then back them with masking tape - so the sticky part creates a frame on the opposite side. Get ready for an awesome electricity project!

Punch and Match the Answers

He walked over to the printer. “I printed the matching activity from our electricity unit on this piece of tagboard. Now I’ll punch holes next to each term and definition.”

After punching 12 holes on the sides of the paper, Mr. Frank picked up a strip of masking tape with aluminum foil stuck to it. “Next, we tape this to the back of the tagboard, matching the term and definition.” He flipped it over and pointed to the holes. “See how the foil shows through here?”

Punch holes along both sides of your multiple-choice worksheet. Then match the answers with foil strips on the back.

Final Set-Up for Your Light Boards

Mr. Frank continued taping all of the matching terms and definitions. He pointed to one strip. “The foil comes right to the edge of this piece of tape,” he said. “I’ll reinforce it with some extra tape to we don’t get a short circuit.”

“I get it,” she replied. “The masking tape insulates the foil, which conducts electricity.”

Mr. Frank nodded his head and flipped the board over. Then he held one wire from the circuit on a term and the other on its matching definition. Immediately, the bulb lit.

“Wow!” Ms. Sneed exclaimed. “That is so cool. OMG, the kids are going to love this!

To set up light boards, simply add an open circuit. When kids touch the two ends to matching question and answer, it lights up!

Ms. Sneed Teaches Her Students to Build Light Boards

A few days later, Ms. Sneed addressed her class. “Today, we will build light boards.”

The kids looked puzzled. “What’s that?” some asked.

Ms. Sneed was ready with a sheet of directions. She distributed it and read the directions aloud.

“We’ll use our use our usual lab groups,” she said next. “Ones, get the foil and tape. Twos, grab the tagboard and paper punch. Threes, take two batteries, a battery holder, and three wires from the table over there. Fours, take a bulb and bulb holder from that same table.”

After the students had all their materials, she clapped for their attention, and they clapped back. “Now I’d like the ones and twos to work on the tape. Threes and fours, build the circuit. Then you can all take turns punching holes and taping the strips.”

Everyone got busy. While her class was generally engaged during science labs, she noticed that they were even more excited for this activity. Several times she heard comments like, “Wow, this is going to be epic.”

Use these directions to build light boards for the kids in your classroom. They're the perfect electricity project to culminate your unit.

Debriefing Electricity Concepts Used in Light Boards

As the students finished up, Ms. Sneed circulated. Every time a group tested their board for the first time, their faces lit up. Shouts of “let me try next” and “cool!” could be heard.

Finally, Ms. Sneed clapped again. “So, you built a circuit. Let’s go over the integral parts. You can point to show me,” she said.

“Where is the energy source?” Her students pointed to the battery.

“The load?” They pointed to the light bulb.

“What about the conductors?” The students pointed to the wires.

Then someone yelled, “Hey! What about the foil?”

Some kids nodded their heads. “Yep,” said Ms. Sneed. The foil conducts electricity as well. What job does the masking tape do?

After a short pause, several students raised their hands. “Insulator?” one girl suggested. Ms. Sneed nodded.

“Great job, everyone,” she said. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

Enjoy Teaching

Culminate your electrical energy unit with light boards! Kids (and teachers) love this awesome physical science project. It’s a part of this hands-on unit.

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