Wearables TWT 2015 Presentation

1. Wear Your Science!
Electricity Through Sewing
Christine Farrell
c.farrell@holychildrye.org
School of the Holy Child, Rye, NY
MS & US Science/Technology/Math
Teacher

2. What is a circuit?
• Path by which electrons travel
– Travel from positive to negative
– Will always take path of least resistance
• Let’s make a mini circuit
– Take out your LED and Battery
** Hint: use circuit with the same color to avoid
adding resistors, or challenge students to use multi
colors and add resistors

3. Parallel Circuit Diagram
Battery
Resistors- LEDs
Current

4. What skills are we building?
• Tactile/Fine Motor Skills
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Creative Thinking
• Science/Physics/Electricity Concepts
• “Maker Movement”

5. What are the components of our circuit?
• 3V Battery
• Sew-in coin cell battery holder
• LEDs
• Conductive Thread
• Thin needle
– To fit through battery holder ends
• Felt/material
• Switch *optional

6. Where can I get these things and how
much do they cost?
• 3V Battery ~ $8/20
– Aslo sold as: 2032, CR2032, Coin cell batteries, Lithium coin batteries
• Sew-in coin cell battery holder ~ $1.15 each
– https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8822
• LEDs – you can get these at any electronics store/site
– We used 5mm today, there are also 10mm and 3mm
• Conductive Thread –amazon or sparkfun; try to buy “thin” thread
– https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867
• Thin needle - to fit through battery holder ends
• Felt/material
• Switch *optional- anything metallic can be incorporated into the circuit
to become a swtich

7. Lets Build one!
The only way to anticipate your students challenges is to
experience your own!
- Positive to positive
- Learn how to sew with regular thread first
- Set up LED/battery pos.-neg. order before sewing
- Make sure there are no gaps in your circuit
- No short circuits! Never cross pos. & neg.
- Linear designs

8. Student Projects: