Makey Makey

This was the first initial lesson using Makey Makey with Year 4.  It was a time to experiment while having fun and problem solving while working together with a partner,

Makey Makey

More Makey Makey

This was a whole day of learnings.  

The object of this lesson was to:  

• get the students familiar with music notes, names and values
• introduce the new Scratch 3.0
• add the new blocks to use makey makey

The outcome of this lesson required the students to:

•  create a code using scratch to a simple song or tune
•  connect a makeymakey to create an instrument to play the sound through

MAKEY MAKEY

Makey Makey

Students will show that they

• can identify the inputs and outputs of a system 
•  understand that when we give a digital device an input, the device processes it and produces an output 
•  can use an application to create original content.

Our school recently purchased a set of makey makeys.  After teaching the classes how to use scratch I introduced the makey makeys.

I began by showing them an example of a circuit i had made out of carrots, celery, play dough and bananas.  We listened to the each object make a musical note and when joined a closed circuit as a class to produce a sound.

After watching a video clip about makey makey http://makeymakey.com/ we then discussed what objects were insulators and conductors of electricity.

Their task was to find 5 objects from around the school that were conductors of electricity and set them up to produce a closed circuit and to play a tune.

A range of materials were used

Each of the students did this very well.  They had to problem solve if the circuit wasn't working.  Some common mistakes were

•  not having a wire earthed
• not touching the earthed wire when they were trying to get sound
• using a object that wasn't conductive


They worked through this very well and progressed on to making music by using on of the makey makey apps.  Piano or bongo drums

Double earthed wires required collaboration

Lead from the pencil worked well

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So much engagement from the class

They discovered they could use parts of their bodies- or other peoples!

All that hair came in handy!

Team work for a closed circuit

Honk Honk!

All ages enjoyed this

Playdough made great keys

SCRATCH

Some of the students who were a bit more competent were able to progress onto scratch.  They were able to use code to make music playing notes on different instruments.