1. Using Paper Circuits to Make Fireflies
Objectives Creative Curriculum Objectives:
Children will:
 Listens to and understands increasingly complex language: (a)
Comprehends language (b) follows directions
 Uses symbols and images to represent something not present: Thinks
symbolically
 Use scientific inquiry skills
 Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks
 Explores the visual arts
Learning Objectives:
 Children will learn about fireflies and what makes a firefly’s body light
up.
 Children will learn how to make electricity by making their own paper
circuits.
Making Objectives:
 Children will create an image of a firefly.
 Children will make their own paper circuit using select supplies.
Materials  The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
 Construction paper (1 piece for each child)
 Crayons or markers
 3V Batteries (1 for each child)
 Mini LED lights (1 for each child)
 Copper tape (Each child will get 2 pieces that are each 4 inches long)
 Scotch tape
 Individual hole punchers
Anticipatory Set I will begin my lesson by asking the children this question:
“Have you ever had the chance to go outside at night during the summer to catch
a firefly?”
Allow the children to share their experiences of how they have caught fireflies.
I have also included follow up questions to encourage more discussion.
 How did you catch the firefly?
 What did you do with the firefly after you caught it?
 What makes fireflies so special?
 Why do you think they light up?
 What else do we know about fireflies?
 What do they look like?
o I will show the children pictures of fireflies lit up at night and a
close up of a firefly. (Pictures on the left with the link to each
one.)
Day 1
Activities
Large Group Experience
 After having a prior knowledge discussion about fireflies, we will read the
story The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle.
 Some questions that can discussed while reading the book includes:

2. o Why does the firefly search for others that are similar to him?
o When did the firefly find his friends?
o What do you do when you feel alone?
 After the story has been read, ask the children some critical thinking
questions such as:
o How can we make a firefly on our own?
 Make a mind map of the children’s ideas
o Where on a firefly does he light up?
o What do you think makes him light up?
Small Group Experience
 Using a piece of construction paper, have the children draw a picture of
what they think a firefly looks like.
 Once the children have drawn their fireflies, they can color their
firefly. They should not color the bottom of their firefly.
 The children will show me their fireflies once they have finished coloring
it. They will be asked to identify the bottom of the firefly. Using a hole
punch, the children will make a hole at the bottom of the firefly. (This is
where the light will go)
Day 2 Activities Large Group Experience:
 The children will be asked to share what they can remember about
fireflies. We will create a mind map of their ideas.
 For this large group experience, we will focus on the trait that fireflies
light up. They light up because their is a chemical reaction inside their
bodies that allows them to light up.
 I will ask the children the question: How can we make our fireflies light
up? We will make another mind map of their ideas.
 I will inform the children that they will make a paper circuit. A paper
circuit will allow the children to learn how to make electricity using a few
simple tools.
 We will watch the YouTube video of How to make a paper circuit. We
will watch the first minute of this video.
 Once the video is complete, we will each make our own paper circuit on
our fireflies.
Additional
Information
How to Make a Paper Circuit:
 Lay the pieces of copper tape on either side of the hole in the paper.
 Place 3V battery on the opposite side of the hole. One end of the tape
needs to be on the bottom of the battery and the other piece of copper
tape needs to be on top of the battery.
 Place scotch tape over the battery to hold it in place.
 Push the LED light through the hole.
 Place each end of the LED light on the tape. Make sure the light works. If
it does not work, flip the ends and test it again. Once the light works, place
scotch tape over the ends to hold the light in place.
 The children have created their own paper circuit firefly!