Make Your Own Scribble Circuits

Materials you’ll need

• paper

• graphite pencil - make sure they are art pencils!

• foil

• 9v battery

• LEDs

• tape

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Use your graphite pencil and sketch a simple shape. Leave two small gaps, one on either side.

Tip: Draw a simple image where all the lines are connected and make sure to create thick, bold lines with your pencil.

Step 2: Mark your positive and negative lines on each side of the gaps.

Step 3: Once you're done with your design, place the battery on one of the gaps. Align the positive and negative ends with the graphite lines.

Step 4: Take an LED and bend the bottom ends of the wires.

Step 5: Tape the wire at the end of the lines across the other gap, aligning positive and negative wires. Make sure your LED stands upright. The wires should be in contact with the graphite lines (the longer side is the positive side).

Tip: If your circuit doesn’t work, try turning the battery around. The +/- sides of the battery need to match the LED.

Learn more

Graphite is an electrical conductor, perfect for learning about circuits and electricity! Because graphite is low in conductivity, the success of a circuit will depend on the length, thickness, and amount of graphite on the paper. For example, the longer the graphite path is, the dimmer your light will be. 

It's time to experiment! Try drawing lines of different lengths. Does it make a difference to the LED? Try drawing lines of different thicknesses. Does that make a difference to the LED?