Makey was invented back in 2010 and has really taken over the world since then. It helps offer schools and parents bringing STEM projects directly into the classroom and home. These projects are overall quite simple and there are tons of different resources for finding and learning how to make projects.
This is a list of 20 makey makey projects that students of all ages will love! We've listed many from Youtube, specifically because in many cases it might be helpful to watch through and learn specifically how to create each project.
These projects can be rather challenging so give yourself and your kiddos a break. If things get out of hand or overwhelming use that time to integrate some coping methods into the lesson. Adding in some social-emotional learning has never hurt anyone!
1. Banana Music
Have your students hook up some bananas to their Makey Makey kits and see what they can make. Bananas and other acidic fruits are considered to be conductive objects in the world of Makey Makey. Could be the perfect piano duet.
Learn More: Fair Chance Learning
2. Game Controllers
Project ideas are far and few between with Makey Makey. Replace keyboard controls with playdough and let students play away! They will love using and challenging different motor skills and cognitive thinking to put their game into action.
Learn More: Brian_librarian
3. Simple or Complex Piano Keyboard
Creating music with arrow keys and everyday materials can honestly be as complicated or as basic as students want and are able to create. A Makey piano is really part of the Makey basics being easy enough for even our youngest STEM learners.
Learn More: Renata Paraense
4. Makey Coordinate Drawings
Using different Makey apps will help students to create almost anything they can imagine. This coordinate grid will definitely become one of those favorite projects. It's also quite a simple circuit project for students to create and use on their own.
Learn More: Makey Makey
5. Large Tap Space
Finding the best use out of conductive materials, like using large sheets of tin foil is always part of the fun of Makey Makey. Try to brainstorm with your students when creating this giant Makey Makey board! See if they can come up with their own types of conductive materials.
Learn More: Yvelines
6. Real-Life Operating
This project may look like a challenge, but it's actually quite a simple project. Working together and programming with Makey Makey students and teachers will be able to program like a sound effects machine. Making the body scream in pain whenever a sensitive area is touched!
Learn More: Madame Bastelt
7. Leaf Instruments
These students turned objects found in nature into musical instruments! Playing a favorite, Around the Mulberry Bush. Quickly turn your Makey Makey into a simple dance project and watch your students fall in love with STEM.
Learn More: Col·legi Sant Pau Apòstol
8. Makey Makey Interactive Poster
Using and understanding interface is vital to students in the up-and-coming world. Using Makey Makey for a project presentation could be just the way to use Makey Makey cross-curricular. Not only are students researching, but they're also learning about how circuits work.
Learn More: Makey Makey
9. Makey Makey Sensory Maze
This sensory maze will be great for students with an overactive imagination who just want to create. They'll first draw their blueprints out and then work with Scratch to put them into action, creating a sensory maze!
Learn More: Colleen Graves
10. Makey Makey Guitar
Students will love creating their own guitars. This is a simple project that students will absolutely love creating. It takes time to design the perfect guitar, along with coding, but it's totally worth it.
Learn More: Cedar Rapids Public Library
11. Circle Piano
Pianos are a huge part of Makey Makey. Mostly because all students know what it is and it isn't. Makey Makey music is part of the basics! Unlike the others though, this piano is large enough for students to run around and make some awesome tunes in the classroom.
Learn More: Nerding
12. Playdough Bongos
Your students will love making these Playdough Bongos. They're also easy enough to create independently! Students will have so much fun making them and showing them off. This video walks students through exactly how to make and program their Bongos.
Learn More: Rapid Education
13. Screaming Carrot
This is a super fun project. Students will have a blast playing with this carrot. As it screams when they cut it, you'll hear laughter from kiddos at any age.
Learn More: Adrian Keevill
14. Homemade DDR
This is overall just a Makey Makey dance floor, but can students accept the challenge and make it into their very own Dance Dance Revolution? A great challenge for your kiddos either at home for the summer or in an after-school program.
Learn More: Makey Makey
15. ESL Classroom
Technology stays pretty consistent throughout the world. Students coming to your school from non-native English countries might have a pretty good grasp on using technology and even coding. Therefore, set them up with a Makey Makey game to practice their prepositions.
Learn More: Makey Makey
16. Fraction Generator
Bring Makey Makey into your math classroom this year. Students will be so excited to use Makey Makey and create their very own fraction generator. This might be challenging, but also totally worth it. What teacher doesn't love a good cross-curriculum activity?
Learn More: Makey Makey
17. Makey Makey Whack-A-Mole
Whack-A-Mole is hands down one of the best projects made on Makey Makey. No matter how many times students create this game, they are always pretty excited about it. Being more of a starter project, it's a great one to have students collaborate and teach each other.
Learn More: Eric Rosenbaum
18. Fishing Game
There's always that one student obsessed with fishing. Your kiddos will love creating and playing this game. It's also pretty simple and a great starter or second project.
Learn More: Adam Miller
19. Brown Bear Brown Bear
Create a read-aloud book with Makey Makey! This will be so much fun for students of all ages. Use a more complicated book for the upper grades. You can find audio clips of almost any book online.
Learn More: ToyNotes
20. Traffic Light
Creating this traffic light is a great project for older students. Not only is it creative, but it also really challenges students to think strategically. Which makes it ideal for students really love creating different projects with Makey Makey. Keep it in your classroom or home on display and let students bask in their technological talent!
Learn More: Alisa Petersen
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