The Power to Conduct #GotThePower

Createdby:KelseyMasserant@missmasserantandMaryCiotta@msciotta

What?
Participantswillapplyknowledgeofcompletingcircuitstoexploreconductorsandinsulators.They
willlearnwhatacircuitneedstofunctionincludinghowtoplacethematerials.Bytheendofthe
lessontheywillknowwhichmaterialsareconductorsandwhichareinsulators.Theywillalso
understandhowtooperateaMakeyMakeyandhowtoplayTetris,PacMan,MarioKart,Panik,
Frogger,andonlineinstruments.
MakingObjective
:Themakerwillchooseproperconductingmaterialsthatcompleteacircuitusing
aMakeyMakey.Thisactivitysupportsexploration,play,andteamwork.Themakerisparticipatingin
thelastthreepartsofthemakermovementmodel:ideate,prototype,andtest.
Materials/Resources:

MakeyMakeykit(foundat
http://www.makeymakey.com
)
Varietyofkitchenutensilsthatincludedifferentsizes,shapes,andmaterials
Alistofgamesthatyouwouldliketoplay(anythingusingthearrowkeysonakeyboard,
spacebar,orclick)
http://makeymakey.com/apps/
Tetris(
http://www.freetetris.org/game.php
)
PacMan(
http://www.freepacman.org
/)
Frogger
http://www.froggerclassic.appspot.com/
PanikforBubbleTrouble
(
http://www.learn4good.com/games/bubbleshooter/arrowkeys.htm
)
MarioKartExtreme:(
http://www.freeonlinegames.net/game/mariokartxtreme.html
)
MusicalInstruments:
http://makeymakey.com/piano/
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/106137514/
http://makeymakey.com/bongos/

Varietyoffood:fruits(apple,banana)andcandy
Othermaterialssuchassocks,pipecleaners,orplaydough
Napkins
ComputerwithUSBdrive
Coppertape
Paper/constructionpaper/posterboard
PostitNotes
Markers

How?
Directions:
1. TurnoncomputersandconnectthemtothebigscreensusingtheDonglecords.
2. Tape3piecesofconstructionpapertogethertoformonelargepiece.Useabout24inches
ofcoppertapeandtapeacrossthemiddleoftheconstructionpaperhorizontally.

3. Inthecenterofthecoppertapethatsalreadyplacedontheconstructionpaper,addanother
pieceofcoppertapevertically.ThiswillformaTshape,whereoneendistouchingthe
horizontalcoppertapeandtheothermeetstheedgeoftheconstructionpaper.
4. Usingamarkerwrite,Placeonefingeronthecoppertapeatalltimesontheconstruction
paper.
5. OpentheMakeyMakeykitsandplugtheUSBcordintothecontrolpanelandthelaptop
computer.
6. ChooseonealligatorcliptoattachtothemetalpartbelowEarthonthecontrolpaneland
connecttheothercliptothepieceofcoppertapeatthetopoftheconstructionpaper.
7. Chooseanotheralligatorcliptoattachtothetwoholessidebysideinonelocationonthe
panel,forexample:thespacebarcircle.
8. Repeatstep7withfivemoreofthealligatorclipssoallfunctionsareaccountedfor.
Differentiationofstations
:
Station1
:ThemakerwillbeintroducedtowhataMakeyMakeyisbyobservingacompletedcircuit.
Eachalligatorclipwillbepressedintoapieceofplaydoughsothecircuitiscompletetoplaythe
instruments.

Station2
:Spreadoutvariousmaterials(fruit,candy,objects,etc.)aroundthestation.Makerswill
choosewhatobjectstousetotrytocompletethecircuit.Themakerwillthenwriteonpostitnotes
objectsthatworked(meaningtheywereconductive)andobjectsthatdidnotwork(meaningtheyare
insulators).

Station3and4
:Atthebeginning,theMakeyMakeyswillbeoutwithconductingmaterialsaround
them,butnoalligatorclipswillbeconnected.Oldermakersmayreadtheremindersandcomplete
thecircuittoplaytheirchoiceofgames.

Whenmakersentertheycanchooseastationtogoto.Youngermakersmayopttoplaythe
instrumentsatthefirsttwo.
Haveconversationswithmakersatstationsoneandtwoaskingquestionslike:Whatdoyou
noticeaboutthecircuit?Whatworks?Whatdoesntwork?Whynot?
Thisguidesthemtounderstandingconductorsandinsulators
MakerOutline:EnterExploreMakePlay

Why?
Briefdescription
:Makerswill
exploreconductorsandinsulators.
Wewantparticipantstoapplytheir
priorknowledgeofcircuitsandchallengethemtothinkmoredeeplyaboutwhatmaterialsare
conductorsandinsulators.
Rationale:

Humansaregoalorientedandactivelyseekinformation
(Bransford,Brown,andCocking2000)
,
thereforetheywillwanttofindaconductortocompletethecircuitinordertoplaythedesired
game.
Constructivisttheory:teachersshouldnevertellstudentsanythingdirectlybutallowthemto
constructknowledgethemselves
(
2000).
Wearelettingthemakersexploreandcreateratherthanprovidingdirectinstruction.This
embodiestheidea,learningbyconstructingknowledgethroughtheactofmakingsomething
shareable.(HalversonandSheridan2014).


Bransford,J.,Brown,A.L.&Cocking,R.R.(2000).Howpeoplelearn:Brain,mind,experienceandschool.
Washington,D.C.:NationalAcademyPress.Retrievedfrom
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309070368

Halverson,E.R.,&Sheridan,K.M.(2014).Themakermovementineducation.HarvardEducationalReview,
84(4),495504.Retrievedfrom
http://ezproxy.msu.edu.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/
1651843463?accountid=12598