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Introduction
Introduction
Makey Makey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It’s a simple invention kit for beginners and experts doing art, engineering, and everything in between.
With the Makey Makey, you can make any conductive material act as the input device for a computer. It comes preprogrammed, so even if you have no coding experience, you can use it and experiment with it as you start to learn coding.
Makey Makey believes that the Maker Movement is more than just robots, 3D printing, or STEM, or even building things. It allows students to become hardware engineers and solve real-world design challenges!
Let's begin!
1. Say hello to your Makey Makey.
Make sure you have all of the parts to your Makey Makey. NOTE: You should have parts 1, 2 and 3 for today.
2. The Makey Makey has a "front" and "back". We'll be working on the front first. Here's what the front looks like:
3. Open the PIANO game. www.MakeyMakey.com/piano
Turn up your speakers.
Play the piano with the arrows on your computer keyboard.
4. Plug in your Makey Makey to your computer.
Small side of USB cable plugs into Makey Makey, big side plugs into computer.
Your computer simply thinks you've plugged in an external keyboard.
Your computer may ask you to install drivers or do other setup. You can click cancel or close the window
5. Using your fingers, control the piano with your Makey Makey instead of the computer keyboard.
Using your left hand, pinch the "Earth" bar at the bottom of the Makey Makey then use your right index finger and touch arrows to play the keyboard. See video below.
HEY! If you were able to get the piano sound to play then you created a complete circuit!
NOTE: When you touch the Earth and an arrow you'll see a little green LED (Light Emitting Diode) light appear next to that arrow. When the green light appears that tells you the Makey Makey is working.
BONUS: Touch the "Earth" with the index finger on your left hand. With your right hand hold your partner's left hand. Have your partner touch an arrow on your Makey Makey with her/his right hand index finger. The piano should play a note. Why does the piano work using this strategy?
SUPER BONUS: Repeat the same activity as described above but add MORE people holding hands. How many people can you add AND have the piano play?
6. Connect one end of an alligator clip to “Earth” on the bottom of the front side of Makey Makey.
Hold the metal part of the other end of the alligator clip between your fingers. You are now “grounded”. While you’re still grounded, touch the round “Space” pad on the Makey Makey with your other hand, you should see a green light go on. You created a CIRCUIT (loop)!
What happens when you press the round "Space" pad?
What happens when your press the arrow keys?
What do you know about the alligator clip and cord?
Play Doh Piano Challenge
Challenge: Use the following materials to create a Play Doh keyboard that you can play.
Materials:
Makey Makey Board
USB Cable
Chromebook
6 Alligator Clips
Play Doh ( 1 small can)
Cardboard
Share your invention with your teacher when you get it to work!
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