1

Light Up Nutcracker
Teacher’s Guide
Grade: 4

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.
A. Follow step-by-step directions to assemble a product
E. Select and safely use tools, products, and systems
f 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.

Fine Arts
CR.2.4.1 CR.2.4.2
Explore a variety of art-making Examine, with guidance, safe and
techniques and approaches through responsible use of traditional and/or new
media and tools
various media using grade-level
• conservation
appropriate elements of art and principles • norms
of design • craftsmanship
• drawing
• painting
• sculpture
• printmaking
• mixed media
Teacher’s Guide 2

“Big Ideas”
● Learn how basic circuits and switches work
● Learn how electricity can be transformed to other forms

Essential Questions
● What are conductive and resistive materials?
● What are loads?
● Why are circuits made in loops?

Scenario
Mr. Nick wants to update his toy nutcracker design to cater to a younger audience. Help
Mr. Nick create a brand new line of nutcrackers that light up and catches everyone’s
attention!

The Challenge
Build a nutcracker that lights up using LEDs. Using markers, crayons, or colored
pencils, and your creativity, style your own Nutcracker and install LEDs to make it more
attention grabbing.
Teacher’s Guide 3

Step-by-Step Instructions
Building the Nutcracker
1. Gather your materials.
Teacher’s Guide 4

2. Gather your tools.

3. Using scissors, cut out your nut cracker silhouette from paper.
Cut out the black rectangle starting right below the mustache.

4. Using canary cutters, cut out a rectangular cardboard piece that

will fit the entire paper nutcracker.

5. Make an outline of the cardboard cutout in the construction

paper. Cut the outline out.

6. Glue the construction paper to the cardboard cutout.

7. Glue the paper nutcracker cutout to to the construction paper

side of the cardboard. Refer to the picture below.

8. Punch holes at the top of the crown and the tip of his staff. This is
where your LEDs will show. Use the orange dots as location
markers.

9. Using canary cutters, cut out a rectangular hole from the

cardboard and construction paper by using the rectangular hole
from your nutcracker paper as a guide.

Tip: First, poke a hole in the middle of the area where you need
to cut out. Then use canary cutters to cut out the rest of the
Teacher’s Guide 5

rectangle.

10. Cut out a small rectangular piece from cardboard. It should fit in the cut out you
made on the nutcracker and move freely. This will be your switch to activate the
lights.

Tip: Cut out a rectangle using the same dimensions as the hole, except make it
longer. This helps you grab it easily. If it’s sticking to the sides of the hole, keep
cutting small pieces off from the edge until it can slide smoothly in hole.

Building the Circuit

1. Grab your black and red wires. Using wire cutters, cut these in half, so that you
have:
x2 Red wires
x2 Black wires
Strip the ends of each of these wires to expose the wire. Have about ½” exposed,
this will make connecting the wires easier.

2. On the LEDs there are long legs, these will need to

connect to the positive (+) side of the battery. Using the
picture to the right as reference, connect one red
wires across these legs. Use the second red wire to tie
into one of the long legs as well, so there will be a tail on
one of the legs.

Tip: Twist the wires and legs together tight. It will

create a strong connection and prevent your circuit
from coming apart. Also, carefully bend the legs away
from each other.

3. Do the same thing for the shorter leg of the LED, using
black wires this time. This will connect to the negative
side of the battery.

Tip: Test your circuit as you put it together, to make

sure it works before the next step.
Teacher’s Guide 6

4. When it is ready, take your circuit to the

teacher and have them solder the legs and
wires together. It will create a better and
stronger connection .

Tip: Test your circuit after being soldered and address any problems.

Putting the Nutcracker Together

1. Next, install the LEDs in the holes

you punched and use tape to hold
them in place. You can also bend the
legs to help keep it in place.
Tip: Make sure the legs are not
touching and create a short.

2. To make our switch in the circuit, cut

the dangling black wire into two
pieces. It is recommended to cut the
Teacher’s Guide 7

wire shorter nearer to the LED. Expose the wire by stripping off the insulation.
Tip: Refer to picture to the right.

3. Using the pictures to above as reference, tape the black wire closest to the
LED near the rectangular cutout, at the top of the cut out.

Tip: Put down a large square foil tape first and then sandwich the wire between
it and another piece of smaller foil tape on top. If you just tape it to the
cardboard, the glue on the tape may prevent your circuit from having a good
connection, so sandwiching the wire between two pieces of foil tape will create a
better conductive area.

4. With the loose black wire, strip both

ends of the wire. Next, take the switch
that you cut out earlier and tape one
end of the wire an end of the switch.
Tip: Use the tip from above to make a
good switch.

5. The Foil/Wire end will be at the back of

the nutcracker. The cardboard end will
stick out on the front of nutcracker.

6. Cut out a
rectangular piece of construction paper that
covers the whole switch. While holding the
switch down and making sure it is connected,
tape the construction paper cut out down.
Tip: Test the connection by connecting the
wires to a battery. Make sure the red is on the
positive (+) end of the battery and the black
wire is negative (-) end of the battery. Use foil
tape to attach the wires to the battery for a
secure connection.

7. Tape loose wires down, so that they are not

visible from the front.
Teacher’s Guide 8

8. Test your switch with the battery attached.

Move the mouth up and down. The LEDs
should turn OFF when the mouth is
open/down. The LEDs should turn ON
when the mouth is closed/up.
Teacher’s Guide 9

9. To make it stand, you need a base. Cut out a square shaped cardboard piece as
wide as the nutcracker background. Cut a triangle shaped cardboard piece that
will help hold the nutcracker up.

10. Using the square piece and cut

out a similar piece from
construction paper. Glue this to
one side of the cardboard piece.

11. Glue the base of the nutcracker

down on the construction paper
side of the base and then glue the
triangle shaped piece on the back
side of the nutcracker to keep him
standing.

12. To make the backside look

professional, cut a piece of
construction paper that will cover
all of the wires and LEDs, while
keeping it short enough to keep
the battery accessible. Think of
the orange dot as a battery.

13. Glue the edges of your

construction paper cutout to the edges of the cardboard back to hide all the wires
and LEDs. By keeping the battery accessible, you can change it in the future with
it runs out of juice!

14. Decorate the front as you see fit! Remember to make it as cool and crazy as you
can, because Mr. Nick wants attention grabbing designs!
Teacher’s Guide 10

Materials & Tools

Materials: Glue, Colored pencils/markers, Cardstock or construction paper, Cardboard,
Wires, Foil tape, 1 3V Battery. Optional: Glitter, Cotton balls

Tools: Scissors, Hole punch, Wire cutters, Canary cardboard cutter, Hot glue gun

Content Information

- Electrical currents exist to provide power or electricity to so many everyday

items.
- Electrical circuits are ways for a current to flow from one power source to another
object that is needing power.
- Conductors are substances or objects that electricity can flow freely through.
- Electrical circuits must be closed in order for the current to run and provide
electricity.
- Chemical energy is being transferred from the battery to the LED light in order
for it to light up
- Conductive materials allow electricity to flow through them and resistive
materials do not allow electricity to flow through them
- A switch allows the electrical current to turn on and off. When the switch is on,
electricity flows freely through the circuit, and when the switch is off, electricity
does not flow freely through the circuit.
- When the switch is on, the LED light will light up, and when the switch is off, the
LED light will not light up
- An electrical load is a component of a circuit that consumes active electricity
opposed to a power source. An example of this in our project would be the LED
lights

Results
Students will need to turn in:
● 1 completed & decorated nutcracker with 2 LED lights

Limitations
The Nutcracker must:
● Be fully colored and decorated
● Have 2 LEDs that conduct electricity when switched on
● Not be more than 1’ tall
● Be completed within the time given
● Be unique

Evaluation
Teacher’s Guide 11

Name: __________________________________

Nutcracker is unique and fully colored & decorated 25/100 ________

2 LED lights work when switched on 25/100 ________
All group members participated in creating the nutcrackers 25/100 ________
All directions were followed in the correct order 25/100 ________
Teacher’s Guide 12

Light Up Nutcracker
Student Guide

Mr. Nick wants to update his toy nutcracker design to cater to a younger
audience. Help Mr. Nick create a brand new line of nutcrackers that light up and catches
everyone’s attention!

“Big Ideas”
● Learn how basic circuits and switches work
● Learn how electricity can be transformed to other forms

Essential Questions
● What are conductive and resistive materials?
● What are loads?
● Why are circuits made in loops?

Challenge
Build a nutcracker that lights up using LEDs. Using markers, crayons, or
colored pencils, style your own Nutcracker and install LEDs to make it
more attention grabbing.

Materials & Tools

Materials: Nutcracker cutout, Glue, Colored pencils/markers, Cardstock or construction
paper, Cardboard, Wires, Foil tape, 1 3V Battery. Optional: Glitter, Cotton balls

Tools: Scissors, Hole punch, Wire cutters, Canary cardboard cutter, Hot glue gun
Teacher’s Guide 13
Teacher’s Guide 14

Step-by-Step Instructions
Building the Nutcracker
11. Gather your materials.
Teacher’s Guide 15

12. Gather your tools.

13. Using scissors, cut out your nut cracker silhouette from paper.
Cut out the black rectangle starting right below the mustache.

14. Using canary cutters, cut out a rectangular cardboard piece that
will fit the entire paper nutcracker.

15. Make an outline of the cardboard cutout in the construction

paper. Cut the outline out.

16. Glue the construction paper to the cardboard cutout.

17. Glue the paper nutcracker cutout to to the construction paper

side of the cardboard. Refer to the picture below.

18. Punch holes at the top of the crown and the tip of his staff. This is
where your LEDs will show. Use the orange dots as location
markers.

19. Using canary cutters, cut out a rectangular hole from the
cardboard and construction paper by using the rectangular hole
from your nutcracker paper as a guide.

Tip: First, poke a hole in the middle of the area where you need
to cut out. Then use canary cutters to cut out the rest of the
Teacher’s Guide 16

rectangle.

20. Cut out a small rectangular piece from cardboard. It should fit in the cut out you
made on the nutcracker and move freely. This will be your switch to activate the
lights.

Tip: Cut out a rectangle using the same dimensions as the hole, except make it
longer. This helps you grab it easily. If it’s sticking to the sides of the hole, keep
cutting small pieces off from the edge until it can slide smoothly in hole.

Building the Circuit

5. Grab your black and red wires. Using wire cutters, cut these in half, so that you
have:
x2 Red wires
x2 Black wires
Strip the ends of each of these wires to expose the wire. Have about ½” exposed,
this will make connecting the wires easier.

6. On the LEDs there are long legs, these will need to

connect to the positive (+) side of the battery. Using the
picture to the right as reference, connect one red
wires across these legs. Use the second red wire to tie
into one of the long legs as well, so there will be a tail on
one of the legs.

Tip: Twist the wires and legs together tight. It will

create a strong connection and prevent your circuit
from coming apart. Also, carefully bend the legs away
from each other.

7. Do the same thing for the shorter leg of the LED, using
black wires this time. This will connect to the negative
side of the battery.

Tip: Test your circuit as you put it together, to make

sure it works before the next step.
Teacher’s Guide 17

8. When it is ready, take your circuit to the

teacher and have them solder the legs and
wires together. It will create a better and
stronger connection .

Tip: Test your circuit after being soldered and address any problems.

Putting the Nutcracker Together

15. Next, install the LEDs in the holes

you punched and use tape to hold
them in place. You can also bend the
legs to help keep it in place.
Tip: Make sure the legs are not
touching and create a short.

16. To make our switch in the circuit, cut

the dangling black wire into two
pieces. It is recommended to cut the
Teacher’s Guide 18

wire shorter nearer to the LED. Expose the wire by stripping off the insulation.
Tip: Refer to picture to the right.

17. Using the pictures to above as reference, tape the black wire closest to the
LED near the rectangular cutout, at the top of the cut out.

Tip: Put down a large square foil tape first and then sandwich the wire between
it and another piece of smaller foil tape on top. If you just tape it to the
cardboard, the glue on the tape may prevent your circuit from having a good
connection, so sandwiching the wire between two pieces of foil tape will create a
better conductive area.

18. With the loose black wire, strip both

ends of the wire. Next, take the switch
that you cut out earlier and tape one
end of the wire an end of the switch.
Tip: Use the tip from above to make a
good switch.

19. The Foil/Wire end will be at the back of

the nutcracker. The cardboard end will
stick out on the front of nutcracker.

20.Cut out a
rectangular piece of construction paper that
covers the whole switch. While holding the
switch down and making sure it is connected,
tape the construction paper cut out down.
Tip: Test the connection by connecting the
wires to a battery. Make sure the red is on the
positive (+) end of the battery and the black
wire is negative (-) end of the battery. Use foil
tape to attach the wires to the battery for a
secure connection.

21. Tape loose wires down, so that they are not

visible from the front.
Teacher’s Guide 19

22. Test your switch with the battery attached.

Move the mouth up and down. The LEDs
should turn OFF when the mouth is
open/down. The LEDs should turn ON
when the mouth is closed/up.
Teacher’s Guide 20

23. To make it stand, you need a base. Cut out a square shaped cardboard piece as
wide as the nutcracker background. Cut a triangle shaped cardboard piece that
will help hold the nutcracker up.

24. Using the square piece and cut

out a similar piece from
construction paper. Glue this to
one side of the cardboard piece.

25. Glue the base of the nutcracker

down on the construction paper
side of the base and then glue the
triangle shaped piece on the back
side of the nutcracker to keep him
standing.

26. To make the backside look

professional, cut a piece of
construction paper that will cover
all of the wires and LEDs, while
keeping it short enough to keep
the battery accessible. Think of
the orange dot as a battery.

27. Glue the edges of your

construction paper cutout to the edges of the cardboard back to hide all the wires
and LEDs. By keeping the battery accessible, you can change it in the future with
it runs out of juice!

28.Decorate the front as you see fit! Remember to make it as cool and crazy as you
can, because Mr. Nick wants attention grabbing designs!