💡 BENJAMIN HARRISON: LIGHTING THE WHITE HOUSE

THE HISTORY: The First Electric President

• President: Benjamin Harrison (23rd)

• The Year: 1891

• The Event: The White House was wired for electricity for the very first time.

• The Problem: It was brand new technology, and people were terrified of it! President Harrison and his wife, Caroline, were so afraid of getting electrocuted that they refused to touch the light switches.

  • Fun Fact: They would often leave the lights on all night because they were too scared to turn them off. They made the White House staff do it!

YOUR MISSION: CHIEF ENGINEER

You are the White House electrician in 1891. The President wants the “modern look” of electric lights in the windows, but he demands that the wiring be safe and hidden.

Goal: Create a Parallel Circuit to light up the White House windows using copper tape and LEDs.

PHASE 1: THE BLUEPRINT

Materials:

• White House Cardstock Template

• Conductive Tape

• LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)

• Coin Batteries (CR2032)

• Scissors & Clear Tape

The Plan:

1. The Windows: Use scissors to carefully cut out the yellow window panes on your White House picture. (This is where the light will shine through).

2. The Flip: Turn the paper over to the blank back side. This is where your hidden wires will go.

PHASE 2: WIRING THE MANSION

Step 1: Lay the Tracks (Copper Tape)

• You need two separate lines of copper tape:

  • Positive Track (+): Runs from the battery spot to the top of the windows.

  • Negative Track (-): Runs from the battery spot to the bottom of the windows.

• CRITICAL ENGINEERING TIP: Do not cut the tape at corners! If you cut the tape, the electricity stops. Instead, fold the tape over itself to turn a corner.

Step 2: Install the Bulbs (LEDs)

• Look at your LED. It has two legs:

  • Long Leg = Positive (+)

  • Short Leg = Negative (-)

• Bend the legs flat (like a split).

• Tape the Long Leg to the Positive Track.

• Tape the Short Leg to the Negative Track.

• Secure it: Use clear tape over the legs to hold them tight against the copper.

Step 3: The Generator (The Battery)

• Place your battery on the circle marked “Battery.”

• Make sure the Positive (+) side is facing UP.

• Fold the corner of the paper over so the Copper Tape touches the top of the battery.

PHASE 3: THE GRAND ILLUMINATION

1. Test: Pinch the battery corner to complete the circuit.

   • Did the lights turn on? Success! You have electrified the White House!

   • Darkness? Check your connections.

     • Did you put the LED in backwards? (Flip it around).

     • Is the copper tape broken? (Add a bridge piece).

2. Make it Real With The “Harrison Switch”:

   Since the President is too scared to touch it, create a “paper switch.” Tape the battery down, but leave a small flap of copper tape that you can press down (ON) or lift up (OFF) without touching the “dangerous” electricity directly!

ENGINEERING VOCABULARY

• Circuit: A complete loop that electricity flows through.

• Conductor: Material that lets electricity pass (Copper Tape).

• Insulator: Material that stops electricity (Paper).

• Polarity: The direction of flow (+ and -). If you get this wrong, the LED won’t light!