Materials List

Makey Makey Workshop Materials - Want to lead your own Makey Makey workshop? Here's the materials we bring to a program. This list is a living document. We will make updates to this list as we learn and grow.

NOTE: This list is for 30 workshop participants.

Hardware:

• Alligator Clips - Each Makey Makey kit comes with seven Alligator Clips. However, during the "Design Challenge" (aka "Demo or Die" session) it's nice to have extra Alligator Clips on hand when people are inventing. The link takes you to an amazon.com page to purchase the "SE TL10 10-Piece Test Lead Set with Alligator Clips" which is a set of 10. We recommend having at least 20 extra Alligator Clips on hand and preferably 30 or 40. You can also purchase these same sets of Alligator Clips at your local "Harbor Freight" store.
• Scissors - We recommend having 10 "multipurpose shears" as they can cut through cardboard easily but seem to be a little safer to use because they cut slowly. You might also consider providing "normal" scissors.
• Wire Cutters / Strippers - This tool is used to cut the extra wire (see "Phone Wire" below) during the "Design Challenge" portion of the day. You can also purchase this tool at your local "Harbor Freight" store. Two pair should suffice.
• Canary Cutter - This tool is nice to have but not mandatory. It makes it easy to cut corrugated cardboard. An elementary school teacher introduced this tool to us. She told us it's safe enough to let young children use it. This tool is used during the "Design Challenge". At our workshops we supply 5 of them and people can share. CANARY Corrugated Cardboard Cutter "Dan Chan" [Fluorine Coating], Yellow (DC-190F)
• 12 inch long rulers - These are used during the Design Challenge portion of the workshop. Two rulers is enough.
• Speakers - Nice to use when you want to make your laptop computer louder. Also nice when playing music while people are working. Our head trainer travels with one UE Boom. This is not required.

Consumables:

• Duct Tape - Used during the afternoon Design Challenge. You can buy this almost anywhere including WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Two rolls is plenty.
• 3M Foil Tape 3381 Silver, 1.88 in x 50 yd 2.7 mil - This is essentially aluminum foil with a sticky back. You can find this at Home Depot or Lowes Home Improvement stores in the ventilation department. You can also find it at amazon.com. One roll will suffice.
• Aluminum Foil - Best to get the "heavy duty" (thick) type. You can find this at most grocery stores. This is used during the afternoon "Design Challenge". One large roll is plenty.
• Wire - During the "Design Challenge" it's nice to have extra wire on hand because some people will invent things that need long wires. We recommend using "telephone wire" because it has 4 strands bundled inside. Each strand can be pulled out to be used independently. Telephone Wire can be found at most home improvement stores. Here it is on amazon: WIRE TELEPHONE 100' IVY by MONSTER JHIU MfrPartNo 140088-00
• Blue "Painters" Tape - Really nice to use because it's easy to remove from floors and walls. This is used during the afternoon "Design Challenge". Two rolls should be plenty.
• Graphite Artist Pencils - "6B" (soft led). We recommend going to amazon and looking for "Tombow MONO Drawing Pencil, 6B, Graphite 12-Pack" ($15). This is used during the "Sketch it Play it" activity. We like to have 36 pencils ready to use.
• Erasers - These are helpful to place on top of the Graphite Artist Pencils. Find them on amazon.com HERE. 36 erasers should be plenty.
• 8.5 x 11 paper - This is used during the "Sketch it Play it" activity. Use any paper that is for a printer or copier. Nothing special here. 40-50 sheets of paper should be plenty.
• Index Cards - 5"x8" Used to make "name tents" at the beginning of the workshop. Also used for the icebreaker activity at the start of the workshop. Two cards for each participant.
• Cardboard - This is used in the afternoon Design Challenge. More cardboard is better. You'll see mention of this in the Pre Event sheet. You can find free cardboard at the grocery store and other places.
• Rubber Bands for the "Switch Make One" activity - We recommend "Advantage Rubber Bands size #2 (3 x 1/8)".
• Rubber Bands for Folders - We like to supply these for use during the afternoon "Design Challenge". Alliance Rubber 07800 Non-Latex Brites File Bands, Colored Elastic Bands, 50 Pack
• Brass Fasteners - Used during the afternoon Design Challenge. These aren't used often but when people need them they are indispensable. School Smart Brass Plated Fasteners - 1 inch - Box of 100
• Foam - Used in the "Switch Make One" activity. I recommend 1/2 inch thick sheet foam. You can find it on amazon as "Fairfield Project Foam, 24 by 72 by 0.5-Inch" for $17 at the time of this writing. I use a Sharpie marker and a yardstick to draw out a grid of 1 inch x 2 inch rectangles. When I prepare for a workshop I cut “strips” of foam that have 12 rectangles per strip (each rectangle measures 1 inch x 2 inch). When it’s time for the “Switch Make One” activity I use scissors to cut out the rectangles - - each person gets ONE rectangle and then that person uses scissors at their table to cut that one rectangle in half lengthwise which produces two pieces each measuring 1/2 inch x 2 inches (they will need two pieces of foam to make their switch). Other places to find foam: craft stores, fabric stores, JoAnn, Michael's, Hobby Lobby.

Build a Basic Circuit

• Supplies (one of the following for every two people):
  • LED - Lighthouse LEDs 10 x 5mm 9v Pre-Wired Red LED - Ultra Bright (7v, 8v, 9v). These can break over time and with use. Have extras on hand.
  • 9v battery - The link takes you to the amazon website to purchase their "basic" brand but you can buy these anywhere. The tops of these batteries break over time and with use. Have extras on hand.
  • Connector for 9v battery - uxcell Black Red Short Cable Connection 9V Battery Clips Connector Buckle(10-Pack). These connectors break over time and with use. Have extras on hand.
  • Play-Doh - Regular off the shelf Play-Doh is used to facilitate connections of wires. We like using the "Play-Doh Party Bag Dough (15 Count)" which can be found at some local stores like WalMart.
  • Aluminum Foil - You can use regular off the shelf aluminum foil found at most any grocery store. Cut strips measuring approximately 1" x 2" to be used as a switch.

Storage / Transport

The Makey Makey trainer team stores and transports all of the above items plus 30 Makey Makey kits in a Rubbermaid 1172 ActionPacker Storage Box (24 Gallon size).