Makey Makey Projects »

Create a simple Exit Poll for your students as they exit the classroom. Gather some good feedback on how the day's lesson went to see where you need to be tomorrow. I created a simple Scratch program with a LEGO Theme to assess how the class went. The students will select red, yellow or green. The program will record the number of selections for each choice. This simple project is adaptable to many different scenarios like chores, lunch count, or any other type of poll you might want to do.

I premade and printed out (3) colored LEGO "bricks" to act as buttons.

Supplies

MakeyMakey Classic

Copper Tape (or Aluminum Foil)

Masking and clear tape (or a glue stick)

(3) Brass Fasteners

(3) Premade button covers (I created LEGO blocks)

Cardboard or corrugated material

(4) Alligator clips (from MakeyMakey kit)

Scratch Program

Step 1: Step 1: Create Your Board.

cut a piece of cardboard for the Exit Poll board (mine is 7.5" x 11").
mark on the board where you want your buttons
cut (3) pieces of copper tape about 3" long
cut a slit in the board in the middle of where the button will be
peel off 1/2" of backing on copper tape. feed the remaining section through the slit and stick the piece to the board.
peel off remaining cover of tape and stick to back of board. We will be using this as the ground.
repeat steps 4-6 for the remaining two buttons.
run a piece of copper tape across the back connecting all the copper tape together. This should go to the edge for connection to alligator clip for ground.
cover in masking tape.
Create a logo for your board and tape or glue to proper position.

Step 2:

using a desktop publishing software, create your button logos or decals. I used Illustrator to create LEGO themed buttons. (mine are 2.375" x 2.375").
cut cardboard and aluminum foil to the same size as button.
Glue (or tape) the button to the front of the cardboard piece and the aluminum foil to back side. I used the clear tape for this.cut pieces of craft sticks the size of the button.
Glue (or tape) them to the aluminum foil side of button as seen in the pictures.
push a brass button through the middle of the button and fold over the prongs on the bottom side so that one end points up and the other end points down.
repeat these steps twice more
cut a length of copper tape that will go from button to bottom of board. Repeat for each button.
Peel of about 1/2" of back but do not remove it.
stick that to brass fastener. Make sure that the sticky side is up. Put the backing back over and tape in place.
Remove the rest of the backing. Place button in position and stick copper tape to board so that it extends past the bottom edge. We will be connecting clips to these.