Within the current unit of inquiry on imagination, the students in Preschool 5 have been exploring a piece of technology called the ‘MaKey MaKey’.

According to the creators of MaKey MaKey, it is ‘an invention kit for the 21st century’.

The MaKey MaKey turns everyday objects into a touch pad for the laptop to use online and only works with materials which will conduct electricity. The students caried out an investigation to find suitable materials to use, which will conduct electricty. We found that solids such as plastics and wood would not work. But metals, such as sharpeners or coins, and objects containing air or liquids, such as playdough and various fruits did.

The students also explored the tranfer of electricty as they discovered that some buttons would only work if they were connected to (touching the arm or hand of) the person holding the elctrictal source (the grey wire). In this way, the MaKey MaKey initiated a detailed investigation into the properties of electricity.

Using the MaKey MaKey the children were enabled to create banana pianos and playdough bongos! 🙂 It was the perfect tool to enable the students to use technology to be creative, inventive and imaginative.

Attached below is a video of the children’s experience using the MaKey Makey. Well done Preschool 5! The next generation of inventors! 🙂