Makey Makey allows students to explore coding in new ways with tangible hardware interacts with programs they create. I had the opportunity to attend a full day Makey Makey workshop this week. The following post outlines some of the great resources for lesson ideas and clever options for low-cost accessories.
Project Ideas & Inspiration
Jump start your creativity and see the possibilities for using Makey Makey with your students by looking through project ideas on Instructables website. Some of my favorites that I discovered while exploring:
Looking for more project inspiration? Check out this great listing which was shared out during the workshop I attended. Learn how to students can create interactive exhibits with Makey Makey in THIS earlier blog post.
Low Cost Accessories for Your Makey Makey
Basic Pressure-Activated Switch
Create a simple pressure-activated switch with cardboard, foil, foam and an elastic. Place conductive material, such as foil or one side of two pieces of cardbard. Connect “Earth” to one and your output (i.e. “Space”). Separate the cardboard with compressible foam pieces and secure with an elastic. Press to activate! Click HERE for detailed instructions on making your own pressure switch.
Kid-Friendly “Alligator Clips”
Traditional Alligator Clips can be tough for little hands to manipulate and don’t seem to last well with repeated use. Create your own kid-friendly alligator clips made out of wooden clothespins and conductive tape. Begin by taking apart a wooden clothespin. Attach conductive fabric tape to the “jaws” of the clothespin (see images in these complete instructions from @instructables). Attach one end of a standard alligator clip to the end of the clip where you added conductive fabric to the full length of the wooden clip. Be sure to tape over the metal part of the clip to insulate it.
Conductive Materials on a Budget
Copper tape is expensive and can be difficult to handle. @AudraKaplan suggested purchasing HVAC Foil Tape which is thicker and more cost-effective. Foil tape is easier to cut to size and remove the backing. It also stores more easily which makes it a good fit for student projects.
If you’ve ever used graphite pencils to create touch points or “wires” for Makey Makey connections, you know that it requires you to really push down to get a thick layer of graphite to work properly. Try purchasing 6B Pencils, rather than the traditional #2 Pencils. They are more expensive, but work much better because they are softer, making them much more effective.
Precision Cardboard Cutting
So many of my Makey Makey projects rely on cardboard. Looking for a kid-safe tool for precision cardboard cuts? You need this magical device! The CANARY Cardboard Cutter doesn’t look like much, but it cuts through corrugated cardboard like butter! The non-stick coating on the blade keeps it from getting stuck on tape and the edges are perfectly safe for kids to handle.
Shout Out!
Special thanks to @AudraKaplan for providing the training which was funded by Microsoft and Code.org as part of a 4 day K-5 Computer Science professional development program facilitated by BATEC. Search for professional development opportunities from Code.org in your area HERE. Makey Makey also offers professional development workshops on-site, more information on those HERE.
