WPAFB STEM Outreach

In this lesson, students will work in pairs to complete activities using the Makey Makey cards from the Scratch website. Students will gain hands-on experience with drag-and-drop coding while exploring circuits and conductivity. A step-by-step guide is provided for both teachers and students. All necessary consumables are included in the downloadable PDF—simply print what you need.

Note: You will need Makey Makey kits to complete this activity.

Possible Time Needed to Complete:
Approximately 90 minutes, depending on student abilities and pacing.

Grade Levels:
8-12

NGSS Standards for High School:

• HS-PS2-6: Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.
• HS-PS3-5: Develop and use a model of two objects interacting through electric or magnetic fields to illustrate the forces between objects and the changes in energy of the objects due to the interaction.
• HS-ETS1-2: Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems.
• HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs.

NGSS Standards for Middle School:

• MS-PS2-3: Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
• MS-PS3-5: Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.
• MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process.

Critical Technology Connections:

• Semiconductors & Microelectronics: Students learn how circuits and conductive pathways work using Makey Makey, building a basic understanding of how hardware connects to computing systems. This supports the semiconductors and microelectronics focus on chip design, sensors, and secure electronic components.
• Future Computing Technologies: Through coding and prototyping, students explore how software and hardware interact. These skills align with future computing technologies, which emphasize innovation in advanced computing systems and efficient software design.
• Artificial Intelligence: Using Scratch, students practice coding logic and simple automation, the foundation of artificial intelligence. This connects to national priorities in AI and autonomy, preparing students to understand how machines learn and make decisions.