NJ Makers Day is a celebration of maker culture in New Jersey held at over 140 partnering locations across the state. This all-ages event will connect individuals with libraries, schools, businesses, and independent makerspaces that support making, tinkering, crafting, manufacturing, and STEM-based learning.
Soldering Sunday is proud to be a sponsor of NJ Makers Day and we have provided over 1000 LED Bookmark kits to libraries across the state that are participating. We are also providing the templates for the kit here, for free, for everyone. All you will need is a printer, a scissor, some tape, two LEDs and a 3v battery.
PDF Template: NJ Makers Day Bookmark Project
Instructions: NJ Makers Day Bookmark Instructions
Other Free Projects You Can Do:
Signal Chip’s Ship (free activity):
Help Chip signal his ship by making a paper circuit. You will need an LED, 9V battery and a graphite pencil. While a regular #2 pencil might work, it is best to use a pure graphite pencil to get the best results. Click here to download activity sheet.
Fix Chip Challenges (Both challenges uses the same download)
Challenge #1: Design Circuits for Chip’s Eyes.
Now that you’ve learned how to make different types of paper circuits, download this handout and try to design circuits to connect LEDs to Chip’s eyes and make them light up. Try different LEDs and different designs. First, try doing it with a different circuit for each eye. Then, try it again with just one circuit.
Challenge #2: Hide Chip’s Eye Circuits
You will need to use the two 5mm LEDs included with your kit. In this challenge, you will create your circuit on the back of the paper instead of on top of Chip. This will be tricky since you will need to match up the eyes. For extra credit, try to design the circuit so that you can put the battery on the circuit with Chip facing you.
Click here to download Fix Chip Challenge Sheet.
What is a Maker? What is the Maker Movement?
There are many definitions, but we would say that this description from AD Week is very spot on on how we define makers and the maker movement:
“The maker movement, as we know, is the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. A convergence of computer hackers and traditional artisans, the niche is established enough to have its own magazine,Make, as well as hands-on Maker Faires that are catnip for DIYers who used to toil in solitude. Makers tap into an American admiration for self-reliance and combine that with open-source learning, contemporary design and powerful personal technology like 3-D printers. The creations, born in cluttered local workshops and bedroom offices, stir the imaginations of consumers numbed by generic, mass-produced, made-in–China merchandise.” AD