We invite you to save BIG during our annual Black Friday Sale, starting Friday 28 November and extending through Sunday 30 November!

For a limited time, use code BF2025 to enjoy 20% off all non-discounted Chibitronics products in our shop.  

*Code valid: November 28, 2025 @12:01 PT – November 30, 2025 @11:59pm PT on all non-discounted Chibitronics products. Discount pricing may not be combined with other discounts.

The post Coming Soon: Chibitronics Black Friday Sale 2025 appeared first on Chibitronics.

During October, Chibitronics and members of our #LightUpPopUpTober team participated in a global PopUpTober challenge. Collectively, our team created a remarkable body of glowing work, featuring 31 different pop-up mechanisms!

We are so grateful to our talented team of volunteers for sharing their time, talent, and creativity with us!

If you’d like to see the full collection of inspiring light-up pop-up creations shared by our #LightUpPopUpTober team, visit the LightUpPopUpTober 2025 Gallery!

In addition to creating a team of volunteers to help us address each of the 31 PopUpTober prompts, we extended an open invitation to our community of artists, crafters, and makers, encouraging them to join the fun. We asked that participants add light to their pop-up creations (in any way that they wished) and share them with us on Instagram, for a chance to be entered into a random drawing.

Congratulations to the two winners, @leahdipas_art and @kyleolmon!

Both winners will receive a copy of Paper Inventions 2nd Edition by our own @Kathy_Ceceri, as well as a bundle of NEW Chibitronics products, including the following:

Prize Bundles Will Include:

• 1 pack of Conductive Fabric Tape Strips
• 1 Variety pack of Launchpad LEDs (30 LEDs total
• 6-pack of White Blink Animating LED stickers
• 5-pack of Launchpad batteries 

The post Congrats to the Chibitronics #LightUpPopUpTober Team! appeared first on Chibitronics.

Throughout July, as part of Infosys Pathfinders Summer Institute 2025, members of the Chibitronics team hosted our most ambitious virtual professional development event to date.

Even with an expedited registration window (which occurred as a result of unprecedented interest in Summer Pathfinders courses in general) active enrollment in our classroom-tested course, Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits, increased by a whopping 26%!

As a result, we trained 84 public and charter school teachers and librarians in 30 states and provinces. Over 61% teach at Title 1 schools, amplifying our reach to underserved communities.

From K-5 to 9-12 and beyond, educators brought skills in computer science, technology, math, art, English, and library science. Together, we impacted 24,352 students across public schools, charters, and libraries. We thank you, Infosys Foundation USA, for empowering learning and driving innovation!

In addition to receiving full scholarships for hands-on virtual professional development, and FREE kits of our newest, LEARNER FRIENDLY supplies (valued at over $250), this year’s participants also benefited from systemic updates designed to make engaging with our content even easier!

Participating educators/librarians were treated to:

• flexible scheduling
• on-demand office hours
• a dynamic series of highly engaging webinars—taught by experts in the fields of education, art, graphic design, robotics, artificial intelligence, paper engineering, and programming!

Along the way, our enthusiastic, “Chibitastic” participants learned how to build simple and parallel circuits, add switches and bridges, and even operate a multimeter (to measure voltage, current, and resistance)!

They debugged!

They developed and designed!

They engaged in hands-on learning!

Participants in our summer course learned how to use resistors, pressure sensors, and our new and improved paper circuits software, Circuit Sketcher!

By enabling participants to design and test circuit templates using our real-time simulator, participants quickly innovated, experimented, and practiced designing increasingly complex circuits virtually, to conserve materials and ensure that they work in the real world!

Testimonials

Based upon testimonials that were shared with us, we learned that even educators with experience creating paper circuits deepened their learning during our summer course!

My favorite thing was getting to do hands-on learning and seeing everyone’s ideas!! I was familiar with paper circuits and felt fairly comfortable with them, but this PD took me to a whole new level!!

Sarah Robinson, High School Science Teacher

Participating in the course was amazing- I am looking forward to working with students this year to use what I have been able to learn and practice.”

Mary Amy Senn, Middle and High School Science Teacher

I’m very thankful to the Infosys Foundation USA for providing these opportunities.  As a Title One school, our funding has other focuses, and it’s difficult to get funding for things like STEM/STEAM in our schools.   It would be nice if public education was fully funded.

Edith Owens, Elementary Art Teacher

Your gift of supplies and motivational support has inspired me to get a grant and do Chibitronics with my entire 4th grade.  So far, we have done simple and parallel circuits.  Looking forward to their art ideas using the lights.  Thank you for pushing all of this cool stuff out to us so we can introduce paper circuitry to our student community.

Eileen Lengenfelder, Elementary STEAM Teacher

Special Shout-outs!

Thank you to everyone who participated or expressed interest in the Infosys Pathfinders Summer Institute 2025. With continued support from our partners at Infosys Foundation USA, we look forward to hosting our paper circuit series again next year!

Thanks also to all the past and present members of the Chibitronics team who have allowed Pathfinders to evolve over the past decade!

On board in the planning and execution of this year’s event were Jie Qi, Jessica Frost-Ballas, Barbara Liedahl, Kristin Osciecki, Kathy Ceceri, Jill Dawson, and Shiela Lee.

Special thanks also go out to our Guest Educators: Jasmine Florentine, Amanda Jean Strode of CodeJoy, Colleen Graves and Sarah Fitzhenry from Makedo!

And last, but not least, we are incredibly grateful to Infosys Foundation USA for giving full scholarships to our participating teachers and librarians, allowing them to attend and receive free bundles of Chibitronics supplies.

The post Record-Breaking Participation During Chibitronics Summer Pathfinders PD! appeared first on Chibitronics.

Video Tutorial

In this video tutorial, created in anticipation of #PopUpTober 2025, I’ll show you a way to create a light-up pop-up bird with wings that tuck into a parallelogram at 45° angles.

The folding mechanism provides a dynamic surface that is useful for adding a protrusion or extension that may be adorned with lights. When the card is opened at a 45° angle, wings appear to fly out from the body of a bird. The bird’s body rests upon a flat plane that moves perpendicular to the card’s spine.

With help from a simple paper switch, decorative lights add a pop of drama.

Directions:

For a full demonstration, please watch the video.

In the video I’ll show you the process that I use for building the circuit and assembling the mechanism. My hope is that it will help you get started with your own light-up pop-up designs. 

To help place focus upon the underlying circuit, I’m providing circuit diagrams and artwork to help get you started. These support materials may be downloaded below.

I’ll be sharing a couple of different ways to construct this mechanism. A simple one with the circuit built on top of the base page, and another with a circuit that requires two sheets of paper and assistance from a craft knife.

Templates, Circuit Diagrams, & Props

To make it easier to follow along with the video, it’s helpful to print out the circuit diagram templates for the two-layer card.

Prep Your Materials

First, gather your tools and supplies.

Then, print and cut out a circuit diagram and the bird pieces. If you plan to color in your own bird body and wings, do so before you adhere the pieces to the mechanism.

Next, carefully cut the solid black lines on your circuit template, marked with the scissors symbol.

Then, score and fold the dashed lines. Use a bone folder to flatten the creased pieces.

Build the Circuit

Once your pieces are prepped, it’s time to build the circuit. To make it easer to build the circuit, I’ve created a version of the hinge mechanism that already has wings attached. If you decide the change the shape of the wings (or you prefer to create something other than a bird) you can use the straight piece.

Tech Tip:

The circuit on this project will be tucked into a compact space that will require some strength at the hinges. I’m using Conductive Fabric Tape, because it is strong and flexible, making it a more durable choice.

I’ve created templates for an easy, one-layer version of this project and templates for a more complex, two-layer version (which requires a craft knife).

Circuit Diagrams & Templates

The one-layer version allows you to build your circuit directly on top of a sheet of cardstock. If you use this option, and you don’t want to see the circuit, you’ll need to be creative about using layers to cover it up.

Templates for One-Layer Card

Circuit Template for 1 Layer
(PDF)

Bird Parts & Extra Hinges
(PDF)

The two-layer version (which I build in the video) allows you to conceal the battery on an additional layer of cardstock; but, it is a bit more difficult to build. This design requires you to thread conductive fabric tape from the bottom of the card up to the mechanism on the top.

Templates for Two-Layer Card

Printable Directions for a Two-Layer Card (PDF)

Colored Bird with Slotted Base for 2-Layer Card (PDF)

Circuit Template for Two-Layer Card Used in Video (PDF)

White Bird with Slotted Base for 2-Layer Card (PDF)

Tech Tip:

Building a circuit in three dimensions requires a bit of concentration and care. Be sure to use generous overlaps when connecting two pieces of conductive tape together at a joint. It’s also a good idea to test your circuit before you apply artwork on top.

Close-Ups of the Circuit Construction on the Two-Layer Version

Useful Tools & Supplies:

1. 2 Circuit Sticker LEDs in a color of your choice
2. Spool of Conductive Fabric Tape or a sheet of Conductive Fabric Tape Strips
3. 1 Launchpad battery (or another 3V coin cell battery)
4. White cardstock for printing out the template (colored cardstock for the card backing)
5. (Optional) Vellum scrap to diffuse the light
6. Scissors
7. Cork-backed steel ruler and a scoring tool (a bone folder or toothpick both work)
8. Pencil with an eraser
9. Pen-knife
10. Japanese Screw Punch or a hole punching tool of your choice
11. Double-sided tape
12. Printer (for printing the circuit diagrams and templates)
13. Art supplies of your choice

Learn More

To learn more about making 45° Folds on a Parallelogram, check out pages 60 and 61 of Duncan Birmingham’s book, Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics: How to Make Folding Paper Sculpture. You may also check out Tutorial #: 45° Folds on a Parallelogram over on YouTube on Duncan Birmingham’s Pop-UpChannel.

The post PopUpTober Tutorial: Light-Up Bird Made with 45° Folds on a Parallelogram (Featuring Chibitronics) appeared first on Chibitronics.

View Video Tutorial:

In this video tutorial, created in anticipation of #PopUpTober 2025, I’ll show you a way to create a light-up pop-up structure based upon a parallelogram.

The pop-up parallelogram provides a flat surface that is useful for adding lights, scenery, and props to add dimension to a story. When the card is opened at a 90 degree angle, a box pops out, with folds parallel to the spine of the card.

With help from an OR Switch, made with Chibitronics Launchpad LEDs, the headlights on my paper car can work independently or together.

Directions:

To view a full demonstration, please watch the video.

In the video I’ll show you the process that I use for cutting, scoring, and assembling the mechanism and adding an interactive circuit behind a desert scene. My hope is that it will help you get started with your own light-up pop-up designs. 

To help place focus upon the underlying circuit, I’m providing circuit diagrams and artwork to help get you started. These support materials may be downloaded below.

Templates, Circuit Diagrams, & Props

To make it easier to follow along with the video, it’s helpful to print out the circuit diagram template of your choice onto white cardstock.

I’ve included two templates; one uses our new, safer Launchpad LEDs and a Launchpad Battery.

The second features Circuit Sticker LEDs with a traditional coin cell battery.

Feel free to mix and match the components or experiment with the placement of your LEDs!

Prep Your Materials

First, gather your tools and supplies.

Then, print and cut out a circuit diagram and optional props.

Use a hole punch on the headlights of the cars.

Next, carefully cut the solid lines on your circuit template, marked with the scissors symbol.

Lastly, score and fold the dashed lines, carefully pushing the parallelogram forward from the spine. Use a bone folder to flatten the creased pieces.

Build the Circuit

Next, use Conductive Fabric Tape, LEDs, and a battery to construct your circuit directly upon the template of your choice.

Be sure to follow the outlines on the template to ensure that the positive and negative traces don’t accidentally touch one another, or you’ll end up with short circuit. This is especially important on the edges of the T-junction.

When you get to the T-junction, be sure to use a generous overlap of conductive tape to ensure a robust physical and electrical connection. And be sure to apply conductive tape to the switch pads.

Adhere your Launchpad Battery with a piece of Conductive Fabric Tape, following the outline on the template.

Repeat this step, using the Launchpad LEDs.

Make sure that you secure both tabs of the LEDs with conductive tape.

Test your switches as you go.

Circuit Diagrams

Parallelogram with OR Switch/ Circuit Diagram (PDF)

For this project, I’ve chosen two white Launchpad LEDs and a Launchpad Battery.

If you prefer to use Circuit Sticker LEDs, refer to the template below.

Parallelogram with OR Switch/ Circuit Diagram (PDF)

This project may also be created using our classic Circuit Sticker LEDs and an ordinary coin cell battery.

You may substitute one of our safer, Launchpad batteries by referring to the previous circuit diagram.

Props

Desert Scene with Cars
(PDF)

After cutting out your scenery and props, make incisions along the solid lines of the parallelogram.

I’ve included a slit in on the top left side of the parallelogram to help secure the large cactus.

Score and fold along the dashed lines.

Useful Tools & Supplies:

1. 2 Launchpad LEDs or Traditional Circuit Sticker LEDs
2. 1 Spool of Conductive Fabric Tape or a sheet of Conductive Fabric Tape Strips
3. 1 Launchpad battery (or another 3V coin cell battery)
4. White cardstock for printing out the template (colored cardstock for the card backing)
5. (Optional) Vellum scrap to diffuse the light
6. Scissors
7. Cork-backed steel ruler and a scoring tool (a bone folder or toothpick both work)
8. Pencil with an eraser
9. Pen-knife
10. Japanese Screw Punch or a hole punching tool of your choice
11. Double-sided tape
12. Glue or an adhesive of your choice
13. Printer (for printing the circuit diagrams and props).
14. Art supplies of your choice

Learn More

To learn more about the Parallelogram mechanism used in this project, check out pages 35 and 36 of Duncan Birmingham’s book, Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics: How to Make Folding Paper Sculpture. You may also check out Tutorial 5: Parallel-folds Part 1 Parallelogram over on YouTube on Duncan Birmingham’s Pop-UpChannel.

The post PopUpTober Tutorial: Parallelogram With OR Switch Featuring Chibitronics appeared first on Chibitronics.

Find #PopUpTober Information & Inspiration

For a quick reference, please visit our #LightUpPopUpTober resource page, which we’ll be updating during the months of September and October. There, you’ll find the daily prompts, tutorials, templates, and plenty of light-up pop-up inspiration to help you get started with your own creations!

What is #PopUpTober?

PopUpTober is a daily pop-up art challenge that takes place throughout the month of October—an event devised by author-illustrator, pop-up and book artist Keith Allen.

This fall, Chibitronics will again be collaborating with @5am_popup, during his annual #PopUpTober Instagram challenge!

31 Prompts—A Lot of Fun!

Starting back in October of 2019, Keith, a Senior Designer at @amgreetings, has been inviting the world’s paper engineers to bring out the scissors, glue, and paper, to make their creations pop!

A highly anticipated list of 31 prompts—one for each day of the month—invites a mix of seasoned and aspiring paper engineers to create and share pop-up spreads using the hashtag #PopUpTober.

In the six years that have followed, interest in the event has remained high! Eager paper enthusiasts around the world await the release of each year’s prompts (which are usually released in early September). Come October, participants begin creating, commenting, and building upon one another’s brilliance, contributing as much (or as little) as they are able. For those who don’t have the time or inclination to join the challenge, the event is still great fun for observers!

#LightUpPopUpTober

This October, we (@Chibitronics) are inviting everyone within our ecosystem of paper crafters and makers to join @5am_popup with an additional challenge—to add light to one or more of Keith’s pop-up prompts, and share their #LightUpPopUp with us on Instagram or Facebook!

By piggy-backing off of Keith’s fun challenge, we’re hoping to generate interest in both paper mechanics and paper circuitry—although participants are invited to integrate and share any number of clever light-up strategies.

Since #PopUpTober can be difficult for a single person to do in its entirety, Chibitronics will be participating as a #LightUpPopUpTober team to collectively address each of the 31 prompts. With each volunteer creating something for a single prompt, we’ll have new light-up, pop-up examples to share on our Instagram feed for each day of the challenge.

Follow or Join the Challenge

Like last year, our team includes a variety of volunteers from a mix of backgrounds— including educators, makers, members of our Design Team, and a star-studded line-up of paper crafters and pop-up engineers!

While this is not a complete list, we’re thrilled to announce that our team will be joined this year by an esteemed cohort of paper engineers and makers that include:

Share Your Work with Us!

And, since this challenge is open to anyone who wishes to participate, we’re cordially inviting YOU to join the fun, by creating as many #LightUpPopUps as you can and tagging and mentioning us on social media. Participants who tag and mention us on social media will also be entered into a prize drawing (no purchase necessary).

One of last year’s prize winners, Leah DiPasquale, will be joining our #LightUpPopUpTober team!

Guidelines and Rules for Joining PopUpTober

Here are the rules for #LightUpPopUpTober 2025!

A Promotional Sale & a Prize Drawing!

Sale!

And to get you stocked up for the #PopUpTober event, we’ll be offering a special 15% discount on select products in our shop, from 15 September until 15 October.

Visit our shop now to save on all our LEDs, Conductive Fabric Tape Strips and Spools, Craft with Light Kits, Pressure Sensor Sheets, and our NEW Launchpad Batteries by using code PopUp2025!

Code valid: September 15, 2025 @ 12:01am PT – October 15, 2025 @ 11:59pm PT on items in our shop. No minimum purchase requirement, offer cannot be combined with other discounts.

Prize Drawing!

#LightUpPopUpTober participants in the continental United States will have their names added to a random drawing, for a chance to win one of two fabulous prize bundles!

(No purchase necessary)

 Prize Bundles Will Include:

• 1 pack of Conductive Fabric Tape Strips
• 1 Variety pack of Launchpad LEDs (30 LEDs total
• 6-pack of White Blink Animating LED stickers
• 5-pack of Launchpad batteries 
• a “hot off the press” copy of Kathy Ceceri’s new book Paper Inventions 2nd Edition

Entry Details for #LightUpPopUpTober Drawing

Entries Close November 1st.  Winners will be announced on the Chibitronics Instagram account soon after.  Per Instagram rules please note, this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram or Facebook.  By entering, you confirm you are 13+ years of age, release Instagram and Facebook of responsibility and agree to their terms of use.  Open to all US-based participants. 

The post Chibitronics Lights Up #PopUpTober 2025! appeared first on Chibitronics.

As part of their Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Celebration, KID Museum hosted Barbara Liedahl to oversee an interactive exhibit inspired by the artwork of our co-founder and CEO, Jie Qi.

“I was located in the big area just off the entrance, and I invited children to make an origami flower with an integrated LED circuit to decorate a cardboard mangrove tree.

I helped participants, aged four to 10 years old, create their own flower.

I introduced Jie, directed parents to the display [about her work], and shared a bit about how Chibitronics materials are fun and easy to use…in being creative with technology.”

Why the Mangrove Tree

Mangrove trees have magical roots that can filter out salt from saltwater. This enables mangroves to drift along the ocean waves, sometimes traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles, before eventually finding a suitable spot to sprout and take root. As they settle and grow, their roots tangle with the surroundings, collect sand and debris, and build up land where there was once only water or sand. This makes them builders: extending coastlines and creating new habitats. Their intricate network of roots also plays a crucial role in protecting the shore from strong waves, acting as a natural barrier from erosion.

In many ways, we are also builders just like the mangroves. We form connections, create lasting relationships, and build communities. My journey, much like these mangroves, has been one of movement and transformation. Born in China and moving to the United States with my parents at 5 years old, I’m now settled here. I’m grateful to have met, and continue to meet, many amazing individuals and communities, who have become my lifelong friends and family.

The mangrove’s upside-down structure, with its roots exposed and highlighted, deeply resonates with me. It reminds me of our own metaphorical roots—our personal stories and histories, and our origins that shape who we are. As we grow and as the world around us shifts, our roots keep us firmly planted and create the foundation that holds us up while we reach for the stars.

—Jie Qi

Barbara, a long time collaborator of Chibitronics, recently retired from her role as an Instructional Specialist in Media Arts for a large school district in Maryland (Prince George’s County Public Schools) where she long supported teachers who wanted to combine technology and the arts. Since then, she has been keeping busy leading and presenting at national conferences, such as the National Association for Media Arts Education, and serving as an educational consultant for Chibitronics.

When Jie asked me if I would help with the celebration on May 18, because she could not attend, I jumped at the chance. I am happy to share the love Chibitronics has for youth and their creative endeavors. I am grateful for the opportunity to support this great work.

When recounting her experience, Barbara described interacting with over 20 children and their parents/guardians. In addition to teaching participants about paper circuitry, she had opportunities to educate people about battery safety and creating switches to extend battery life.

Every instance was successful; they each left with a working circuit inside their origami tulip, and were very proud! Some wanted to wear their creation and asked me to add the double-stick tape dot to the flower so they could stick it to their shirt! Others wanted to save the battery’s power and asked how to create a switch so they could activate the LED when they wanted rather than having it illuminated full time. They understood that the battery wouldn’t last forever. I assured them that with it being connected with just one LED, the battery should last at least a week and sometimes, I’ve had them shining, albeit a bit dim, for upwards of a month! I also reminded the “grown up helpers” that the coin cell batteries are a swallowing hazard and that they should make sure the battery doesn’t go into mouths.

When asked about her past involvement with KID Museum, Barbara had plenty of stories to share.

“For three years (2014, 2015, and 2016) I participated in the Silver Spring Maker Faire, sponsored by the KID Museum. There, I introduced The Art and Science of Felting with Wool—where young people learned how to make a felted coaster or picture with wool roving, soapy water, a plastic sandwich bag, and a lot of elbow grease!

I recently found my three blue ribbons I received for being a ‘Maker of Merit.’ I’ve had those ribbons displayed on my refrigerator since then! I’ve followed KID Museum ever since. I love seeing how they’ve grown over the years. Their commitment to children and bringing the maker mindset to every child, including those ‘in the margins,’ makes me very proud to know them and support them.”

To learn more about the interactive exhibits highlighting different makers, creators, and local community groups continuing through the month of May, visit KID Museum.

Barbara Liedahl, will be co-teaching our annual Summer Pathfinders Course this July. Pathfinders is an online professional development course, generously sponsored by Infosys Foundation USA, which is opened to US based public and charter school teachers and librarians. To learn more, visit Registration for Summer Pathfinders is Open.

The post Illuminating Mangrove Trees at KID Museum (With Barbara Liedahl)  appeared first on Chibitronics.

Details:

This summer, Chibitronics is excited to be presenting a hands-on workshop at ISTELive25 in San Antonio, Texas!

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Edtech conference and expo is the premiere EdTech conference in the United States. It will be taking place from June 29 – July 2, 2025.  

Come join Jie Qi (Chibitronics CEO) and Molly Adams (Secondary Coordinator for ELAR & Social Studies, Royse City ISD) to spark some joyful learning! 

Learn to build electronic circuits on paper with easy-to-use LED stickers, conductive tape, and craft materials!  Explore circuit design intuitively, creating interactive sensors and switches for artistic projects. Discover free educator resources, curriculum, and digital design tools.  Experience a variety of learning activities and customize the curriculum!

Workshop Title:

Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Paper Circuits

Date & Time:

Monday, June 30, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CDT

Get Your Maker Passport Stamped

If you are planning attend ISTE, we hope that you’ll swing by booth 608 and come say hello!

Calling all ISTELive 25 attendees!

Your favorite maker and edtech brands have teamed up to bring you the ultimate giveaway exclusive to the ISTELive 25 Expo Hall! 

Up for grabs is a Mega Maker Bundle featuring amazing tools for your classroom from:

BirdBrain Technologies, booth 618 

Chibitronics, booth 608 

Clixo, booth 2842 

Makedo, booth 710 

Sphero, booth 1118 

Strawbees, booth 1032 

Entering is Easy

• Snag your maker passport by visiting any of the six participating booths.
• Complete your passport by collecting stamps from all six booths.
• Enter the Mega Maker Bundle Giveaway by showing your fully stamped passport and entering your details digitally, at any of the participating booths.

How will you use the Mega Maker Bundle in your classroom?

We can’t wait to find out! We’re so excited to see you at ISTE! 

USA 18+ only. No purchase required. Ends CST 7/2/25. Max 1 entry per person. T&C’s apply.

The post Chibitronics is Presenting at ISTELive2025! appeared first on Chibitronics.

For the months of March through May, visitors to KID Museum in Bethesda, Maryland will have an opportunity to learn about circuitry and programming in their Electronics Studio, while being introduced to a variety of inspirational makers in STEM! 

Launched on March 9th, as part of KID Museum’s Women’s History Month celebration, and extending through May’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Celebration, the interactive exhibit will highlight different makers, creators, and local community groups, as well as honoring role models with inspiring stories that appeal to kids and their families. 

By exposing children to some of the artistic creations made by Jie Qi (our co-founder and CEO), and providing hands-on opportunities to learn and play with Chibi Chips, KID Museum seeks to empower children through engaging, inspiring programming. From March through May, KID Museum will be highlighting ways that their community goals align with the Chibitronics mission of combining art with engineering, empowering creators of all backgrounds to make their own expressive and personally meaningful technologies.

As part of the festivities, KID Museum will be introducing children to the limitless possibilities of combining personal art with creative coding in the two main ways:

Art Making Station

Inspired by Jie Qi’s work, such as the world renowned Dandelion Painting, visitors will create rice paper artwork to lay over a pre-made Chibitronics paper circuit, bringing it to life with light. The circuit will stay at KID Museum, but makers can take their artwork home.

Coding Station

Kids and their families will use Chibi Chips on Clips connected MakeCode to program pre-made LED circuits.

According to KID Museum, “We’ve really enjoyed experimenting with the Chibi Chips and are looking forward to sharing your work with our visitors.”

Learn More

To learn more, or to join the celebration of the achievements of women in the STEM and Maker communities who are shaping the future through innovation and creativity, visit KID Museum.

The post KID Museum Collaborates with Chibitronics this Spring! appeared first on Chibitronics.

Please Note: Registration is now closed for the 2025 summer Pathfinders course!

Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits

If you are a K-12 public or charter school educator or librarian based in the United States, we have an opportunity for you (or someone you may know)!

This summer, as part of Infosys Pathfinders Summer Institute 2025, we are excited to be once again teaching a virtual course, “Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits!”

Classroom-tested, our dynamic, ever-evolving curriculum introduces educators to paper circuits, STEAM, and novel ways of integrating them across subject areas.

Participating teachers will receive full scholarships for hands-on virtual professional development, and a FREE kit of supplies (valued at over $250), to learn with and take back to the classroom — all generously funded by Infosys Foundation USA.

Apply now as spots are limited!

Please note: Each educator can only register for ONE 2025 Pathfinders summer course. Those who apply for multiple courses will be responsible for paying for the additional courses out of pocket and no sponsorship will be provided in this case.

Choose Dates & Times That Work For YOU!

Dates: Core sessions July 7-July 25

Our Core Sessions are being offered multiple times throughout July to accommodate your schedule and provide flexibility. Please sign up for ONE session A, B, and C in consecutive order (asynchronous video makeup options available).

Course Format: 40 hours total

• Three 3-hour live Core Sessions A, B, and C
• Special topics 2-hour webinars
  Please see our webinar schedule below with topic sessions and a range of special guest hosts!
• Live office hours sessions (daily between July 7 and July 25)
  This is where you can ask questions, debug one-on-one with course facilitators, and dive deeper into topics of your choice! We will also hold “topic-themed” office hours by special request from participants.
• 10 hours of asynchronous activities and projects to explore on your own
• Please note: this course requires is approximately 30-32 hours of live sessions along with 8-10 hours of asynchronous hands-on project-based work. Live sessions will be recorded and made available for video makeups to fit your schedule!

Applications due as soon as possible! Registration is closing in the next few days!

Please note: Each educator can only register for ONE 2025 Pathfinders summer course. Those who apply for multiple courses will be responsible for paying for the additional courses out of pocket and no sponsorship will be provided in this case.

Course Details:

Pre-requisites: No prerequisites.  All skill levels are welcome!

Facilitators:

• Jie Qi, Co-Founder & CEO, Chibitronics
• Jessica Frost-Ballas, Head of Craft & Creative Partnerships, Chibitronics
• Kathy Ceceri, Author & Educator
• Kristin Osiecki, Artist & Educator
• Barbara Liedahl, Professional Development Specialist, BJLFELTCLAYMAKER, LLC

Grades: Geared toward 4th through 12th grade educators

Description:

Learn the basics of how electricity works, and apply this knowledge in developing creative projects for your students. Whether you’re a science teacher who is looking for new ways to help students engage with core concepts from your curriculum, an art teacher looking for accessible ways for students to express themselves with technology, or anywhere else across content areas, this course is for you!

Paper circuits make use of familiar craft materials such as tape, markers, and cardstock to build electronics projects that look and feel like paper, but can come to life through the power of electricity. Educators can use these materials as a friendly on-ramp into a new world of technological making, while empowering students to express themselves and tell their stories in exciting new interactive ways. 

In this workshop, you will learn to build expressive circuits on paper with easy to use Chibitronics components, conductive tapes, and craft materials. Together, we will create interactive switches and sensors, and explore circuit design intuitively while making works of art. We’ll introduce you to our new Chibitronics circuit design and simulation software, educator resources, and curriculum. You’ll have an opportunity to test out these activities yourself, reflect on your experiences, and customize curriculum for your students. Workshop participants will share ideas and feedback with fellow educators. You’ll walk away with the resources, skills, and all the support you need to facilitate paper circuit activities in your own classroom!

All participants will receive a FREE kit of LEARNER-FRIENDLY materials mailed to their home to learn from and use with your students.

We look forward to learning and creating with you this summer!

All participants will receive a FREE kit of supplies including:

• Educator Set of Chibitronics Supplies
• Classroom Set of Chibitronics Supplies (for up to 30 students)
• Preliminary access to our NEWEST product releases

What past participants have to say:

As a middle school literacy teacher, I am always looking for ways to incorporate hands-on activities into the curriculum.  Start with Art: STEAM Learning with Chibitronics Paper Circuits provided me with tools, materials, and the confidence to incorporate fun and meaningful STEAM activities into literacy.  I was inspired and had the space and opportunity to connect my content standards with skills and habits that all 21st century learners will need.  This class is not just for technology or STEAM teachers; educators in all areas and across many settings will benefit from taking it. I would highly recommend this class to any teacher looking for ways to help students light up their learning and really shine! 

Aubrey, 7-8th grade humanities teacher, Pathfinders 2024

This class opened up a whole new world of collaboration for me. I am building ideas about how to collaborate with tech, art, and language arts. It makes problem solving tactile and fun!

Liz, 8th grade math teacher, Pathfinders 2024

Summer 2025 Webinar Schedule:

Note: Session recordings will be made available for a make-up option.

A bit about Infosys Foundation USA:

Infosys Foundation USA, committed to expanding access to computer science and maker education in K-12 public schools across the U.S., offers k-12 public school teachers across the US the ability to apply for their Pathfinders Institute twice each year. Special consideration will be given to teachers from high-needs schools and under-represented communities, those new to teaching CS and maker education, and to districts that demonstrate a commitment to sending multiple teachers to Pathfinders.

Please share this with any US-based public or charter school teachers and librarians that you think may be interested. We hope you will be able to join us this summer!

Please Note: Registration is now closed for the 2025 summer Pathfinders course!

The post Registration Open for Summer Pathfinders 2025! Free Chibitronics Supplies & Hands-on PD for Teachers appeared first on Chibitronics.

Our End of Year Clearance Sale ends tonight at midnight (PST)!

For one more day only, December 31, 2024, all purchases over $100 (not including shipping) are eligible to receive a free Craft with Light Kit– Color (a retail value of $20)! To receive your free gift, simply add it to your cart before check-out, and we will take care of the rest!

Save up to 50% on select items including our Animating LEDs, LED Mega Packs, Craft with Light Kits, stencils, and a variety of conductive materials!

Shop, stock up, and save now!

*Sale prices will be reflected in the cart at checkout.  Sale prices cannot be combined with other discount codes. Add the Craft with Light Kit to your cart for your free gift.  If your total, excluding the Craft with Light Kit, exceeds $100, the kit will be free.  Craft with Light Kit gifts are available only while supplies last. No rainchecks.

The post FREE Gift & Final Day of SALE! appeared first on Chibitronics.

Shop & Save

In order to make room for new inventory, we’re having a huge End of Year Clearance Sale!

Shop now to save up to 50% on select items between December 10 and the end of the year!

Save on Animating LEDs, LED Mega Packs, Craft with Light Kits, stencils, and a variety of conductive materials!

Shipping Deadlines

For US delivery we recommend ordering by December 13th for arrival in time for Christmas gifting; but, please note, delivery times cannot be guaranteed.

International delivery times will vary; we recommend purchasing as soon as possible for the best chance of a Christmas arrival.

*Sales prices will be reflected in the cart at checkout. Cannot be combined with other offers and discounts.

The post End of Year Clearance Sale! appeared first on Chibitronics.