Learn How to Count Money With Coins Using the MaKey MaKey!
Intro: Learn How to Count Money With Coins Using the MaKey MaKey!
Learn how to recognize and count with coins using the MaKey MaKey. Anyone with a MaKey MaKey can create this educational tool for kids. The software is written in Scratch, which can be modified in order to go deeper in using coins as well as Scratch programming. We hope that you have fun!
Required materials:
- 1 x MaKey MaKey
- 1 x USB Cable
- 1 x PC
- 1 x Quarter
- 1 x Dime
- 1 x Nickel
- 1 x Penny
STEP 1: Connect the Ground Signal
This connection is the part that you will touch to ground yourself to the MaKey MaKey board. The connection is clamped using alligator clips. See the black wire.
STEP 2: Connect the Dime
Connect the dime to the right arrow connection on the MaKey MaKey. The connection is clamped on both ends using alligator clips. See the green wire.
STEP 3: Connect the Quarter
Connect the quarter to the up arrow connection on the MaKey MaKey. The connection is clamped on both ends using alligator clips. See the yellow wire.
STEP 4: Connect the Nickel
Connect the nickel to the left arrow connection on the MaKey MaKey. The connection is clamped on both ends using alligator clips. See the blue wire.
STEP 5: Connect the Penny
Connect the penny to the down arrow connection on the MaKey MaKey. The connection is clamped on both ends using alligator clips. See the red wire.
STEP 6: Connect Your MaKey MaKey to Your PC
Connect your MaKey MaKey to your PC. See the red USB cable.
STEP 7: Open the Scratch Program
STEP 8: Start the Program
Click on the green flag on the screen to start the program. It has been boxed in red in the graphic.
STEP 9: Start Learning to Count Coins!
You are ready to go! Make sure to hold the ground wire with one hand while you touch the coins with the other hand. See the video for a demonstration. Have fun!
10 Comments
mellissa.mccreary 4 years ago
edwardbarnabas 4 years ago
I introduced it to a team of 3rd-5th graders, and they took it and developed a similar project that taught kids their vowels.
Hope this helps!
hobartboys 6 years ago
This is a great way for kids to learn about money!! Thank you for sharing:)
edwardbarnabas 4 years ago
Raphango 9 years ago
Awesome project for kids teaching! Congratulations!
edwardbarnabas 9 years ago
Thank you Raphango! We appreciate the encouragement!
wilgubeast 9 years ago
Cool! It might help to clarify the purpose in your intro a bit more. I thought I might learn to make a coin-counting, Coinstar-like device. Instead, this is a tool to identify coins by denomination. (Or perhaps I am dense. Always a possibility.)
Regardless, this is a great use of Makey Makey and Scratch.
edwardbarnabas 9 years ago
Hi wilgubeast, great point! I updated the intro to try to clarify a bit more. I hope that it helps. Thanks for the positive feedback ;).
wilgubeast 9 years ago
I feel fourteen percent less dense. :D Thanks for clarifying. (When version 2.0 identifies the coins by their resistance or surface capacitance or whatever, I'd like to put in a feature request for identifying coins in my pockets without removing them from my pockets. I got $5 on the kickstarter...)
edwardbarnabas 9 years ago
No problem! Great idea. Could be a fun project! :)