Interactive Design and Programming with Makey Makey

The Makey Makey can be used to create interactive art, animations, music, or game. This week we will focus on music by writing a program using Scratch and then controling our program using the Makey Makey. Once you have created the basic program, you can add art elements or other interactive features.

Objectives:

• Modify a Scratch musical program to work with the Makey Makey.
• Experiment using different materials with the Makey Makey to control the program.
• Customize the music program by adding additional interactive elements.

1) Review this Music Example (Choir) and discuss how it can be modified to work with the Makey Makey.

2) Write a similar program using controls that work with the Makey Makey.

3) Test your program, and use different conductive materials to make your program run (be creative).

4) Reflect on your results below:

Pixel Art and Room Design

This week we will learn how to create digital art using pixels. We'll make a picture of a flower (like the ones you have been learning about in-class) using individual pixels and different colors/shapes.

1) Click HERE to open the pixel art program.

2) Learn the basic elements of drawing a flower and re-create this elements using pixels and different colors.

3) Download and print out your pixel art.

4) If there's time, click HERE to open classroom architect to design your own classroom space.

Basic Electricity and Circuits

This week we will learn about the basics of electricity and circuits. Students will use Snap Circuit Jr. to explore how circuits work, and to demonstrate the difference between parallel and series circuits.

Click HERE to complete an interactive lesson about circuits.

Open the Snap Circuit box and follow directions to create a simple series and parallel circuit. Explore with different loads with any remaining classroom time.

PicoBoard

This week, we will begin learning about circuits and conductivity. We will combine a circuit with Scratch programming and complete several activities.

1) Learn about a PicoBoard.

2) Connect the PicoBoard to the computer, turn on the COM Port and experiment with the sensors.

3) Follow the steps shown in-class to use Scratch to write a program that can be run with the PicoBoard. This activity is based on this SparkFun Workshop.

4) We will work on this activity for several class sessions.

Click HERE for additional activities.

Makey Makey

This week we will begin an engineering unit by introducing Makey Makeys. Students will explore the basic functions of the Makey Makey, learning the basics of electric circuits, and how to use the Makey Makey in different ways  through the use of programming, creativity, exploration, and engineering.

Begin by watching this Makey Makey demo video:




Click HERE to go to the How To page on the Makey Makey website.

Explore and experiment with the Makey Makey with the rest of class time.

Math Practice

This week we will use online programs to improve basic math fluency. We will be focusing on addition and subtraction.

1) Click HERE for number counting activities.

2) Click HERE for addition activities.

3) Click HERE for subtraction activities.

4) If there's time, we'll log-on to IXL and review relevant math activities for additional at-home practice.

Extra Practice

Geometry

ABCya by Grade

Penguin Species Comparison

This week we will continue learning about penguins online. We will look at the 17 different species of penguins and select two different species to compare and contrast.


1) Click HERE to open your class slides.

Kincaid

Crews

2) Click HERE to access some videos and information about the different penguins.

3) Click HERE to access additional information and videos/pictures.