Projects

Fruit Piano

Less than 30 min. Under 5 5-7 8-10

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

An unconventional piano that uses fruit as the keys.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

You will learn how to use a makey makey – and experiment with the question, “is this material conductive?”

STEPS

STEP 1

Laying out the keyboard

Many different fruits can be used but the classic example for the Makey Makey are bananas. Lay them out in a row like a keyboard, leaving space between them so that none are touching.

STEP 2

Connect the leads

Connect the wire leads to the bananas by gripping the tops with the alligator clips on the wires.

STEP 3

Connect the Makey Makey

Connect the wire leads to the Makey Makey. Start with the left most banana and hook them up in the order of left arrow, up arrow, right arrow, down arrow, space/left button.

STEP 4

Last wires

Add the ground lead to the bottom of the Makey Makey. Next, plug the USB cable into the board, then into your computer.

STEP 5

Play your piano

Go to¬†the Makey Makey site¬†to access the piano especially designed for the Makey Makey. Hold the wire connected to the ground section of the Makey Makey with one hand and tap the bananas to play the piano.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

Fruits & vegetables will conduct electricity the same way a salt solution would.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Try connecting other items instead of fruit. How about having your friends hold each wire and make a High Five piano? How do you think the Makey Makey works?

Materials:

5 Bananas or other fruit
A Makey Makey kit
A computer connected to the internet

See More Projects in these topics:

Arts & Crafts Electronics Food Games Microcontrollers Music Programming

See More Projects from these themes:

The Canteen (Mess Hall and Recycling Station)

Maker Camp

Maker Camp is a do-it-yourself online resource to help leaders like you organize a summer camp that engages children in making. Our goal is to provide you and your campers with the inspiration and the helpful resources, along with many possible projects to fit a wide range of interests and abilities. The idea is to focus on making as a playful, social activity. Maker Camp provides enough support for anyone to get started. Making provides experiences that help children become self-directed learners and good problem-solvers.

PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS

BROWSE MORE MAKER CAMP PROJECTS FIND EVEN MORE PROJECTS AT Make:

Please Note

Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Make Community, LLC, disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.

Maker Camp Project Standards

Based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. These standards provide goals for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art. The Anchor Standards include:

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Refine and complete artistic work.
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

Please visit the website for specific details on how each anchor applies to each discipline.

NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards. Learn more.

Forces and Motion

3-PS2-3. Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.
HS-PS4-5. Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

K–12 Computer Science Framework

The K–12 Computer Science Framework is designed to guide computer science from a subject for the fortunate few to an opportunity for all. The guiding practices include:

Fostering an Inclusive Computing Culture
Collaborating Around Computing
Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems
Developing and Using Abstractions
Creating Computational Artifacts
Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts
Communicating About Computing

You can download the complete framework here. You may also want to consider the International Society for Technology in Education Standards. The ISTE Standards provide the competencies for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age, providing a comprehensive roadmap for the effective use of technology in schools worldwide.

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. Also see Standards with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art for Music.

K–12 Computer Science Framework

The K–12 Computer Science Framework is designed to guide computer science from a subject for the fortunate few to an opportunity for all. The guiding practices include:

Fostering an Inclusive Computing Culture
Collaborating Around Computing
Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems
Developing and Using Abstractions
Creating Computational Artifacts
Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts
Communicating About Computing

NGSS K-2 Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.

K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.

For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS 3-5.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.

3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

Fruit Piano

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?