What is a Squishy Circuit?

Squishy Circuits combines conductive and insulating play dough to teach foundational electrical engineering concepts in a tactile, creative, and learner-driven way. There’s no need for breadboards or soldering – just add batteries and the pre-made dough (or make your own dough with the provided recipes). Let your creations come to life as you light them up with LEDs, make a little bit of noise with buzzers, and spin with the motor.

How It Works

Students mold play dough into electrical pathways using two dough types:

• Conductive dough (typically colored)—allows electricity to flow.

• Insulating dough (often white)—blocks current flow, enabling learners to design circuit paths.
  
  

Using simple components like LEDs, buzzers, and motors connected to battery packs, learners build interactive circuits that illuminate, buzz, or spin using only dough as wiring.

Science Classroom Examples

1. Basic LED Circuit
   Students use two clumps of conductive dough to connect a battery pack and an LED. Once the dough paths are connected properly, the LED lights up—teaching circuit completion and polarity.

2. Series and Parallel Explorations
   Learners create both series and parallel circuits using multiple LEDs, comparing brightness and behavior. 

3. Play Dough Switches
   By inserting insulating dough between conductive sections, students build simple switches or interrupt circuits—demonstrating open/closed circuit principles.

4. Add Sound and Movement
   Include buzzers or motors to design noisy or moving sculptures—like beeping “elephants” or spinning “robots.” 

5. Conductivity Investigations
   Students test various everyday materials (aluminum foil, pencils, keys) to see if they conduct electricity—bridging science and material properties. 

6. Creative Circuit Sculptures
   Inspired by the kit’s playful nature, learners design imaginative figures such as octopuses, submarines, or snails that light up or move.

Resources