The new Code-a-Key Backpack! Bringing the Makey Makey and the BBC micro:bit together for more invention fun!

Run and Jump Game Pad by Josh Burker

Get up off the couch and actually run and jump when you need the Sprite to move on the screen. You can use these game pads with any Scratch project in which the Sprite moves with key controls. Learn to build a switch, learn about conductivity and the conductivity of different materials, learn to program a simple Scratch program that reacts to the switch being activated, induce physical activity when gaming.

Cut Cardboard

Use a box cutter to carefully cut two pieces of cardboard the same size. You can easily accomplish this by selecting a box with the flaps intact and cutting matching flaps from the box. Cut a third piece of cardboard that is the same size as the other two, or cut strips of cardboard about an inch wide. You will use the third piece or the strips shortly, so set them aside.

Tear aluminum foil

 Tear a piece of aluminum foil to roughly the same width and length of the piece of cardboard.

 

Glue

Use a glue stick to adhere the foil to the cardboard.

 

 

Strip Wire and Tape it

Use the wire strippers to remove about eight inches of insulation from the ends of two pieces of wire. Use cellophane or masking tape to affix the wire to the edge of the cardboard. Use a small piece to affix the end of the wire to the aluminum foil.

 

 

Wiring

Cover the wire with a second piece of aluminum foil. Use the glue stick to adhere it to the lower layer of foil.

Build the second half

Build the second half of the switch according to steps 1 through 6, using the second piece of cardboard.

 

Picture Frame

If you have a third piece of cardboard as opposed to inch wide strips of cardboard, use the ruler and box cutter to remove cardboard from the middle of the sheet, creating a picture frame from the cardboard.

 

 

Glue

Glue the frame to one of the sheets of cardboard covered in aluminum foil. If you are using cardboard strips, glue them to the edge of the aluminum foil-covered cardboard.Glue the second sheet of aluminum foil covered cardboard to the top of the cardboard frame.

 

 

Repeat

Build at least one more Makey Makey game pad using previous steps. If you want to have players physically jump, consider building a third game pad.

 

 

Connect and Remix

Connect the game pads to the Makey Makey with alligator clips. Connect the Makey Makey to the computer with the USB cable.  Remix this Scratch project.

It uses the left and right arrow keys and a variable to make the Sprite run across the screen. If you have a third game pad, you can connect it to the Up arrow: jumping on this pad will make the cat jump too. Scratch Linkhttps://scratch.mit.edu/projects/86250621/

 

Time Investment
1 - 2 hours
Grades:
Pre-K - 12+

Supplies

  • Makey Makey
  • Box cutter
  • Sheets of cardboard
  • Aluminum foil
  • Glue stick
  • 22 gauge wire, ideally in two different colors,
  • Wire cutter/stripper
  • Masking tape or cellophane tape
  • Ruler

EDU Standards

N/A

Download

Download PDF copy of this Guide

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