Light Up Origami Butterfly
WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?
Fold a simple butterfly using origami and then add LEDs to create light up antenna. This a fun way to learn about and build circuits while also practicing the precision of origami and being creative. This project is based on the Luna Moth from The Big Book of Maker Camp Projects.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
Fold a simple butterfly using origami and then add LEDs to create light up antenna. This a fun way to learn about and build circuits while also practicing the precision of origami and being creative. This project is based on the Luna Moth from The Big Book of Maker Camp Projects by Sandy Roberts.
STEPS
STEP 1
Initial Folds
Place the paper in front of you with the points facing in compass directions to make
a diamond. Create a mountain fold, folding the bottom point to the top point. Unfold. Turn 90 degrees, and repeat.
STEP 2
Create Creases
With the paper returned to the diamond orientation, fold the top point down to the center of the paper. Repeat for the other points. Unfold. Flip the paper over and orient as a square.
STEP 3
More Creases
Fold the top to the middle line. Repeat for the bottom. Turn 90 degrees and repeat.
STEP 4
Form the Wings
Open the top folds. Take a point toward the center and fold it downward, reversing the folds and aiming the point outward and to the side. Do the same for the other side. Then do the same for the bottom. At this point, you should have a six-sided shape.
STEP 5
Form the Body
Rotate 90 degrees. Fold the points downward and out to the side, along the diagonal creases. Flip the paper.
STEP 6
Continue the Body
Fold the top down to meet the bottom of the square. Fold the right side over along the middle, creating an isosceles triangle.
STEP 7
Final Folds
Holding the top of the triangle, at the right angle, fold the other points upward and out, forming wings. The center channel should be wider toward the top, and coming to a point slightly past halfway along the butterfly. Crease well.
STEP 8
Add LEDs
Flatten the moth. Inside the folded body, arrange the first LED on the left so that the
positive lead (the longer one) is to the left and the negative lead is to the right, with the LED roughly centered between the center and diagonal fold. Allow the LED to hang off the end of the butterfly by a bit. Use copper tape to attach each lead, taking care not to let the tape for the negative and positive leads touch. This will short the circuit.
Place the second LED with the negative lead to the left and the positive lead to the right (the opposite of the first LED), with the LED roughly centered between the center and diagonal fold. Attach as you did the first LED.
You want the two positive leads and the two negative leads to be able to touch when the butterfly is folded together.
STEP 9
Wire the Positive Lead
Place a piece of copper tape so that it attaches to the positive lead of the right-most LED and wrap it around to the back of the butterfly. Fold a piece of tape into a loop with the adhesive facing out. Place that on the tape you added to the back. Place the battery positive side down onto the folded tape and press until well attached.
STEP 10
Connect the Negative Lead
Attach a piece of copper tape from the negative lead of the left-most LED and wrap around to the back of the butterfly. Carefully direct the tape to the top of the battery (the negative side), creative a fold as needed. Make sure that the tape from the negative lead does not cross the positive. Press well.
STEP 11
Check Your Connections
Use your fingernail to make sure the copper tape is well connected to the leads of the LEDs. Ensure that the positive and negative sides of the circuit never cross. Make sure the positive and negative leads of the LEDs touch when the butterfly is folded so that the circuit is closed. If needed, adjust the LEDs by carefully bending them away from one another. Use a binder clip to hold the butterfly together.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Check out the other light up origami projects in The Big Book of Maker Camp Projects!
Materials:
- Origami paper, any color
- Two 5mm LEDs, any color
- 3-volt coin battery (CR2032 or CR2025)
- ¼-inch copper tape with conductive adhesive or Maker Tape
- Binder clip
Please Note
Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Make Community, LLC, disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.
Maker Camp Project Standards
Based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
National Core Arts Standards
The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. These standards provide goals for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art. The Anchor Standards include:- Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
- Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
- Refine and complete artistic work.
- Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
- Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
- Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
- Perceive and analyze artistic work.
- Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
- Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
- Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
- Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards. Learn more.Forces and Motion
- 3-PS2-3. Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.
- HS-PS4-5. Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
National Core Arts Standards
The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. Also see Standards with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art for Visual Arts.NGSS K-2 Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
- K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
- K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
NGSS 3-5.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
- 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
NGSS MS.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
- MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
- MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
NGSS HS.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
- HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
- HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
- HS-ETS1-4. Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem.
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