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Video Introduction
Kids love the moment when something they made lights up with the press of a button. Inspired by the famous Minecraft torch I created this little DIY gadget for them. This illuminated torch is a great first paper circuit project for kids and uses only simple electronics. You can easily make it at home or use it in classrooms for STEAM education. I created different designs and also a blank template that kids can customize.
All designs can be recreated by following the tutorial below!
In Short:
Recommended Age: 8 years and older
Skill level electronics: Easy
Skill level paper crafting: Easy to medium (depending on the template)
Time needed: 90 minutes
Estimated costs per torch: 3 euro/dollar (less if you bulk order)
Materials can easily be reused or recycled for other projects.
Templates and Shopping List
Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to download my workshop kit.
Included in every download
All the templates you need for this project
The electronics shopping guide for this project
Detailed instructions on my Stress-Free Workshop page
And much more!
Click here to download:
“This is a VERY COOL resource! Everything from Volt Paper Scissors is just amazing. The conductive tape he uses was a game changer for us. VERY complete resource and so easy to use! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!”
Looking for free downloads? This website has grown beyond a hobby, so I now charge a small fee for my templates.
One circuit many different designs
Note: Every design consists of a Lightbody and a torch handle. These are just my recommendations. You can choose any combination to create your own designs.
Candle
A wooden handle and a very easy to make flame that lights up! No colored paper required.
Halloween
This Halloween themed skull template does not require any colored paper, but some vegetable oil is recommended.
Stained Glass
This stained glass template works best with different colored transparent paper (or Post-its and some vegetable oil!).
Minecraft Inspired Torch (three different Colors)
This template was inspired by the legendary Minecraft torch. I created different colored light cubes and a wooden handle.
You can choose between orange, blue and purple. I recommend using colored transparent paper of the same color.
Update: New Design!
I have updated the handle design. The new template looks much cooler. The tutorial and everything else are the same!
Other Fun Stuff
Blank Template
If you want to create completely new designs, my blank template is a great starting point!
Easy Circuit For Testing
Download my easy circuit template to experiment with different components.
Colored Paper
If you don’t have colored or transparent paper, you can print the design on regular paper and make it translucent using vegetable oil.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
If you want to use my work commercially, write me an e-mail.
If you use or share my work, please attribute VoltPaperScissors.com as the creator of this work and provide a clickable link where possible.
Find more information about me, my project, and the license I use here.