Build your own cardboard version of the classic Operation game while exploring the exciting world of electronics and game design. In this hands-on workshop, participants will use cardboard, aluminium foil, wire, lights, and buzzers to create a working game board that reacts when the circuit is completed.
As they design and build their game, participants will discover how electrical current flows through a simple circuit and how conductive materials, switches, and connections work together to produce light and sound. They will test their circuit, identify problems, and improve their design until their game works reliably.
This workshop blends electronics, engineering, problem solving, and creative design in an engaging and accessible way. By transforming everyday materials into an interactive game, participants will build practical STEM skills while developing confidence through experimentation and discovery.
Learning outcomes
Electrical circuits
Understand how current flows through a complete circuit and what happens when a circuit is opened or closed.Conductors and insulators
Explore which materials conduct electricity and learn why aluminium foil and wire can be used to create electrical connections.Inputs and outputs
Discover how contact between game components acts as an input that triggers outputs such as lights and sound.Engineering and construction
Design and assemble a working game board using everyday materials and simple electronic components.Problem solving and testing
Test connections, identify faults, and make adjustments to improve the reliability of the game.Creativity and game design
Make creative decisions about the game’s theme, appearance, layout, and level of difficulty.
