Introduction: Makey Makey Game Show Buzzer
This instructable is designed to help you build a simple game buzzer system for classroom review games. In this Instructable, you will create simple cardboard switches that will work with a Makey Makey and will be coded using Scratch.
Supplies
4 Pieces of Cardboard (3 x 3 inches)
4 pieces of Tin Foil Tape cut to 3 x 3 inches
4 Pieces of Foam
2 Rubber Bands
Colored Paper or Tape
1 Makey Makey
1 Computer
Step 1: Prepping Your Supplies
- Take your tin foil tap and put it on 1 side of each of the pieces of cardboard.
- On the opposite side from the tin foil, attach your colored paper or tape.
Step 2: Make Your Switch Sandwich
- Add two pieces of foam and place them on the tin foil tape side of 1 piece of cardboard.
- Make sure the foam is spaced out on the ends of the cardboard to leave space in the middle.
- Take the piece of cardboard that has the colored paper on it and place the tin foil tape side down onto of the pieces of foam.
- Repeat Steps 1-3 for the other two pieces of cardboard.
- Take your rubber bands and wrap it around the cardboard sandwich.
* Make sure that rubber band it not too tight around the cardboard sandwich and that the space is still preserved in the center.
Step 3: Connect Your Makey Makey
- Take two alligator clips and attach one to each piece of cardboard of the cardboard sandwich. One on the top and one on the bottom. Make sure that the alligator clip is touching the tin foil tape.
- Repeat for the other cardboard sandwich.
- Take one cardboard sandwich. Take the open end of the alligator clip and put one into the Up Arrow spot on the Makey Makey and take the other alligator clip and attach it to the earth.
- Now, take the other cardboard sandwich. Take the open end of the alligator clip and put one into the Space spot on the Makey Makey and take the other alligator clip and attach it to the earth.
- Connect the USB Port on your Makey Makey to your computer.
Step 4: Write Your Code
- Go to Scratch.mit.edu
- Create an original code with unique sounds from their sound library or get inspired and remix the Game Show Buzzer with Makey Makey that I wrote.
Use this with your students during any review games that you host in your class. There will be no more arguments about whose hand was up first!