Night-Light Pennant
Light-up pennants can be customized to all sorts of fun designs!Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/night-light-pennant-with-lilymini-protosnap/introduction
Students learn the functions of pre-programmed microcontroller units such as the LilyMini ProtoSnap as they use them to create light-up pennants with LED components. Students design their own felt pennants and sew on circuit components using conductive thread. This activity gives students hands-on experience with engineering technologies while making creative pennants with LED lights that can illuminate in three pre-programmed sequences: all on, breathing, and twinkle.
Electrical engineers use microcontrollers to control individual components in a system. They can be programmed in advance with different sequences of code to control component behaviors. Microcontrollers are used in so many different applications, ranging from medical equipment to automobiles, and are an example of how engineering technologies are present in our everyday lives.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain what microcontrollers do.
- Describe the importance of microcontrollers in engineering and artistic applications.
- Assemble a system based on the LilyPad LilyMini microcontroller unit.
Show that electricity in circuits requires a complete loop through which current can pass
Grade 4
Do you agree with this alignment?
STEL-1L Explain how technology and engineering are closely linked to creativity, which can result in both intended and unintended innovations.
Grades 6-8
Do you agree with this alignment?STEL-8D Follow directions to complete a technological task.
Grades 3-5
Do you agree with this alignment?
4-PS3-2 Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
Grade 4
This resource focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS:
Science & Engineering Practices- Make observations to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence for an explanation of a phenomenon or test a design solution.Do you agree with this alignment?
Disciplinary Core Ideas- Energy can be moved from place to place by moving objects or through sound, light, or electric currents.Do you agree with this alignment?
- Energy is present whenever there are moving objects, sound, light, or heat. When objects collide, energy can be transferred from one object to another, thereby changing their motion. In such collisions, some energy is typically also transferred to the surrounding air; as a result, the air gets heated and sound is produced.Do you agree with this alignment?
- Light also transfers energy from place to place.Do you agree with this alignment?
- Energy can also be transferred from place to place by electric currents, which can then be used locally to produce motion, sound, heat, or light. The currents may have been produced to begin with by transforming the energy of motion into electrical energy.Do you agree with this alignment?
Crosscutting Concepts- Energy can be transferred in various ways and between objects.Do you agree with this alignment?
Do you agree with this alignment?- Make observations to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence for an explanation of a phenomenon or test a design solution.
Each student/group needs:
- LilyPad LilyMini ProtoSnap (includes microcontroller, light sensor, mode button, battery, CR2032 battery holder, RGB LEDs), such as DEV-14063 for $15 from SparkFun at https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14063
- sewing needle, such as from a set of five needles for $2 from SparkFun at https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10405
- Pennant Template (PDF)
- craft felt, one 9 x12-inch sheet makes one pennant
- wooden dowel rod, on which to hang the pennant from felt loops
To share with the entire class:
- conductive thread, 2+ feet per student; such as 30-ft stainless steel thread bobbin for $3 from SparkFun at https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867
- pens, markers or chalk to trace design on felt
- scissors
- embroidery or sewing thread
- hot glue gun(s) and hot glue sticks
- (optional) assorted additional craft supplies for decorating, such as feathers, sequins and buttons
- (optional) string and push pins, to hang the pennants on a wall
Basic understanding of circuits. Ability to hand sew using needle and thread.
How do we control systems? Most of the time, systems rely on user input to work; like pushing a button or flipping a switch. We can also control systems using a computer, which enables us to give a wide variety of instructions to our systems. Today, we will be using LilyMini microcontrollers to control small lights called LEDs. A microcontroller is a small computer that stores information and commands, so our LEDs can have more advanced behavior than simply turning on and off.
Besides LEDs, what do you think engineers use microcontrollers for? (Discuss ideas as a class.) Microcontrollers are present in everything from household appliances to automobiles! Engineers pre-program the controllers with programming code, so that users can easily control more-complex systems.
Microcontrollers and electronics are being used more often in textiles, fashion and toys. Can you think of any items that contain electronics? (Possible answers: Light-up shoes, shirts and keychains, stuffed animals that move and sing.) Today, you will act as if you are electrical engineers and create hanging pennants that have LED components. The LilyMini microcontroller you will use is specifically for textiles, and you will sew it onto your pennants using conductive thread. Let’s get started!
Light-up pennants can be customized to all sorts of fun designs!Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/night-light-pennant-with-lilymini-protosnap/introduction
Background
If unfamiliar with e-textiles, take a look at the following SparkFun tutorials,
Before the Activity
- Make copies of the Pennant Template (PDF), one per student.
- Cut the conductive thread into 2-foot (0.6-m) strands, one per student.
- Gather the remaining materials.
- Heat up the glue guns.
With the Students
- Present to the class the Introduction/Motivation section. Incorporate the pre-activity assessment—a discussion of everyday uses of microcontrollers.
- Distribute the batteries and LilyMini ProtoSnap boards. Direct students not to break the boards apart (yet).
- Tell the students: The LilyMini Protosnap has all its components wired together so you can test out the circuit’s functions before you sew. Install the battery and press the “on/off” button located between sew tabs 3 and 4 (as necessary, show Figure 1).
Figure 1. The LilyMini ProtoSnap microcontroller has all its pieces wired together.Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0. https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/7/9/ProtoSnapLayout.jpg
- Direct students to explore the different modes of the LilyMini by pressing the button and covering the light sensor. Expect them to discover the colors and behaviors for the following three modes:
Mode 1 = white lights; all LEDs on
Mode 2 = magenta lights; LEDs fade in and out in a breathing pattern; when the light sensor is covered, the LEDs fade faster
Mode 3 = cyan (blue) lights; LEDs off; when the light sensor is covered, the LEDs twinkle
- Review the definitions of outputs and inputs. Ask students to identify the outputs and inputs of their circuits. (Outputs = the LEDs; inputs = light sensor and button.)
- Hand out the remaining supplies.
- Have students trace the Pennant Template (PDF) onto their felt pieces and cut them out.
- Direct students to break apart the LilyMinis and discard the non-sewable pieces and scraps (see Figure 2). Then remove the battery and set it aside somewhere out of the way.
Figure 2. Keep the sewable components of the LilyMini (in dark purple). Discard the rest (the light purple).Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/7/9/ProtoSnapBreak.jpg
- Direct students to arrange their circuits’ components on their felt pennants according to the template’s diagram instructions. Have students trace the circuit to sew, keeping track of positive and negative terminal orientation. Once everything is laid out and the orientations are double-checked, direct students to use drops of hot glue to secure each component in place.
- Then have students use conductive thread to sew the circuit components to the felt piece.
- Make sure students loop the thread through each component at least three times to ensure electrical connections. Figure 3 shows an example of sewing tab 1 of the LilyMini to tab S of the light sensor.
Figure 3. Sew neatly along the traced lines.Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0. https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/7/9/Stitching1.jpg
- Direct students to continue sewing the components together according to the template. Have students use one long piece of conductive thread to connect multiple components, such as the negative terminals of the LEDs.
- Tell the students: After all the stitching is complete, turn over the project and trim any loose thread tails before testing.
- Have students insert the battery and check all the circuit modes. If any problems are encountered, see the Troubleshooting Tips section.
- Have students customize and decorate their pennants using whatever craft supplies are available, including cutting and gluing shapes and letters cut from excess felt (trade colors with other students).
Tips:
- The light sensor must remain uncovered to work!
- Incorporate into your designs the light-up LED locations.
- Covering the LEDs will dull the light, so keep that in mind while decorating.
Encourage students to go wild with their pennant designs!Copyright 2016 SparkFun Education, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/7/9/Example_Graveyard.jpg
- Conclude by having students individually present their pennants to the class, as described in the Assessment section.
- conductive thread
- Thread spun of stainless steel (or silver-coated nylon) that carries current like wires so that it can be used to create circuits that are flexible and require no soldering and thus are suitable for textile-based projects that use embedded electronics. Conductive thread tends to be more “twisty,” and so more difficult to sew with than non-conductive (regular) thread.
- e-textiles
- Clothing or accessories that includes electrical components such as LEDs. Sometimes called electronic textiles, smart fabrics, smart textiles, smart clothing or smart garments.
- input/output
- The communication between an information processing system (such as a computer) and the outside world. Input is the circuit component that gathers information from the world and relays it to the microcontroller. Output is a circuit component that receives information from a microcontroller and sends it out into the world.
- led
- Abbreviation for light-emitting diode, which is a type of semiconductor called a diode that converts electrical energy into light.
- microcontroller
- A small computer that stores information and commands to control different sensors and boards it is connected to.
Pre-Activity Assessment
Think-Pair-Share: Extend the Introduction/Motivation discussion of microcontrollers. Have students think of and then share within small groups their ideas of engineering applications in which microcontrollers might be useful. Discuss as a class.
Activity Embedded Assessment
Monitoring: Walk around the classroom while students sew together the LilyMini components. Help with any troubleshooting needs that arise.
Post-Activity Assessment
Class Presentations: Give students time to show off their completed and decorated pennants and compare their designs. What are some advantages and disadvantages to the way the pennants are designed?
Beyond Pennants: In a class discussion format, ask students: For what other applications engineers might use the LilyMini ProtoSnap?
- Hot glue may cause minor burns so make sure students handle glue guns with care.
- Sharp sewing needles can cause injury if used carelessly. Advise students to use them with intention and be especially careful around their faces and eyes.
- Breaking apart the LilyMini sometimes results in pieces with sharp edges so alert students to be careful when performing these steps.
If a circuit does not light up, try a new battery or check that it is switched on. Then check the sewing for any loose threads or ends that may be touching other parts of the circuit and causing a short circuit.
Have students create new pennants without the provided template. Student-made templates reveal their comprehension of circuits and open up the project for more creativity.
- For lower grades, pre-cut the felt templates and have students instruct adult helpers on where to place dots of hot glue. Also have adults break apart the LilyMini ProtoSnaps for the students. Spend less time exploring the functions of the LilyMini pre-assembly and provide more time for pennant customization.
- For higher grades, eliminate the provided template and have students design their own circuit designs. Direct students to clearly label the components and require them to get approval of their circuits before they begin assembly.
Activity adapted from SparkFun’s Night-Light Pennant with LilyMini ProtoSnap at https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/night-light-pennant-with-lilymini-protosnap/introduction
Contributors
Angela Sheehan; Sabina Schill
Supporting Program
SparkFun Education
Copyright
2017 by Regents of the University of Colorado; original © 2016 SparkFun Education