Oh Christmas Tree

Grade Level: Fourth

STEM Content Standards:

Science
4-PS3-2 Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred
from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.

Technology and Engineering

STL 12: Students will develop the abilities to use and maintain technological
products and systems.
D. Follow step-by-step directions to assemble a product.
E. Select and safely use tools, products, and systems for specific tasks.
STL 16: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use
energy and power technologies.
C. Energy comes in different forms.
D. Tools, machines, products, and systems use energy in order to do work.

Mathematics
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (4-ESS3-1)
MP.4 Model with mathematics. (4-ESS3-1)

Big Ideas:
• Understanding that energy comes in different forms
• Understanding that energy can be transferred through electric currents
• Following step-by-step instructions

Essential Question:
• How does energy move through an electrical circuit to produce light?

Scenario:
Lucy and her mom and dad just finished decorating their Christmas tree. It is bi
and beautiful and perfect for the holiday season; however, they feel that the tree is
missing something that would make it even brighter. Perhaps a bright shining star
on top would do just the trick. Lucy and her family don’t know how to make a star
light up though. They need your help to get the tree shining bright so it can be the
perfect tree this Christmas.

Tools:
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Glue stick
• Hot glue gun
 • Thumb tack

Materials:
• 1 sheet of 2-ply chipboard
• Wires
• 2 LED light bulbs
• 1 battery
• Painters Tape
• Construction paper
• Aluminum foil tape
• Pencil
• Markers

Resources:
• Teacher
• Chapter 1: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html
• How to make a toggle switch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGXw9bkfM1A
• How to make a slide switch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSmYT6hPjUU
• How to make a rotary switch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I24G3TlSLow

Content Information:

Electrical current is the flow of charge. When the switch is connected, electrons
flow from the anode (positive/top of battery) to the cathode (negative) at the
bottom of the battery and return to the positive pole. The battery provides the
electromotive force (or e.m.f.) that "pushes" the electrons through the wires of the
circuit. Electromotive force is measured in volts. In some ways it is similar to the
potential energy stored in an object at the top of a hill. The object might roll down
the hill and lose its potential energy and, in an analogous way, the electrons flow
down the voltage drop (or potential difference) as they move around the circuit. As
the switch is turned on, the light bulb ignites (lights up). When the circuit is
closed, by throwing the switch, the battery forces those electrons to flow around
the wire, thereby creating the current.

Deliverables:

Students will work in pairs; each pair must turn in a complete and functioning
Christmas tree. The students will present their product to the class and explain
what they did.

Limitations:

• Students will have three 50-minute class periods to complete the activity.
• Students can use only the materials listed above, nothing outside of it.
• Students’ trees must be at least 10 inches tall
• The Christmas tree must be free-standing
• The Christmas tree must be decorated and attractive
 • The Christmas tree must utilize two LED bulbs, and both must work using a
push-switch.

Evaluation:

The students will be evaluated on their work based on their ability to follow step-
by-step instructions, the functionality of their product, the look of their product,
and how well they work as a team. The students will be evaluated using the
following rubric:

5 15 25
Following Instructions: The students deliver a The students deliver a The students deliver a
product that lacks product that product that
demonstration of demonstrates mostly demonstrates complete
following instructions. following the instructions and thorough use of the
The product is but has areas that need step-by-step instructions.
incomplete, or incorrectly to be refined.
completed.
Functionality: The students deliver a The students deliver a The students deliver a
product that does not product that lights up product that functions
light up at all. part of the time, or only consistently. (Both bulbs
one bulb lights up. light up every time.)
Aesthetics: The students deliver a The students deliver a The students deliver a
product that is product that product that is very
incomplete, shows lots of demonstrated some use creative and well-thought
visible chipboard, and of creativity but could be out. The product is
needs lots of refining to refined to produce a attractive and clean.
be an attractive product. more attractive product.
Teamwork: The student did little to The student did a little bit The student completed
no work on the project of work on the project, their fair share of the task
and relied heavily on but the weight of the task at hand and cooperated
their partner. was not distributed well with their partner.
evenly.
 Oh Christmas Tree Step-by-Step Guide

1. On a large piece of chipboard, sketch out your

Christmas tree design. Be sure it is at least 10”
tall and 7” wide. Be sure to include gifts under
the tree (this will be used for a switch later on).

2. Cut out the outline of your Christmas tree using

scissors.

3. Trace the outline of your tree onto another piece

of chipboard and cut it out. (This will be the back
of the tree).

4. Using one of the cut-out tree outlines, trace

your design onto construction paper that you
will use to cover the chipboard. Cut out
everything that you would like to include (tree,
star, gifts, etc.) This is your time to be creative!!

*Be sure that one of your gifts is in the form of a

flap. Fold a piece of paper in half, and glue one
side to the chipboard, leaving the other half as a
flap that opens downward (See image)

5. Glue the paper onto the chipboard.

6. Cutout the same construction paper designs, and

glue them onto the second cut-out tree, be sure
the gifts mirror the layout in the front, as this
will be the back of the tree.
7. Using the front of the tree, place two dots on the
star, and poke holes into it.

8. Repeat step 7 on the inside of the gift that you

created a flap with.

9. Insert the two LED bulbs into the holes in the star.
Separate the positive and negative wires on the
back (positive is the longer wire). Be sure to label
the star (+ and -) so you remember which side is
positive and negative.
10. Connect one red wire to each of the positive wires of the LED bulb.
Secure them to the chipboard using a small piece of aluminum foil
tape.

11. Repeat step 10 using black wires on the negative side of the bulb.
*note: be sure the two red wires
extend down the holes through
the gift at the bottom of the
tree. Be sure the black wires
extend to the center of the tree
where they will meet the
battery.

12. Twist the red wires together

and twist the black wires
together.

13. Run the open part of the red

wires through the top hole of
the gift.

14. Using one smaller red wire, run

an open end through the
bottom hole of the gift, and allow the opposite end of this wire to
meet the black wires at the center of the tree.

15. Place the battery between the black (negative) wires, and the
singular red (positive) wire that runs up from the bottom hole of the
gift. Be sure the negative wires touch the negative side of the
battery, and the positive wire touches the positive side of the
battery.

16. Use painters’ tape to secure the battery, as well as any wires that
need to be secured.
17. Flip the tree over. You should have two wires
(twisted together) coming out the top hole of
the gift. Secure these to the top flap using a
square of aluminum foil tape.

18. Repeat step seventeen with the bottom wire.

Your Christmas tree should now light up!

19. Glue your second set of construction paper to

the backside of the tree.

20. Using a dot of hot glue at the tip of the star,

and the bottom two corners of the tree, attach
the back of your Christmas tree.

21. Cut out two triangle pieces of chipboard to use

as a stand.

22. Cover these pieces with paper as desired.

23. Using hot glue, attach these pieces to the back

of your tree, about a half-inch up from the
bottom.
24. Draw on any additional details you would like to add to your tree
(décor, bows, etc.) And enjoy