Built for the Real After-School Environment
After-school programs aren't classrooms. Students arrive tired, energized, distracted, or all three at once. They need something that grabs attention in 60 seconds and holds it for 45 minutes without a lesson plan or a test at the end.
Students Choose Their Own Project
From banana pianos to foil mazes — kids pick what excites them, so engagement is intrinsic, not assigned.
Works Great in Pairs
Built-in collaboration: one student holds ground, the other touches the surface. No solo screen time.
No Wrong Answers
Open-ended invention means every attempt is a success — perfect for the low-stakes after-school vibe.
Immediate Results
Plug in, clip on, touch. Sound plays. Students are hooked in under a minute, no setup ritual.
Designed for the After-School Time Block
A complete Makey Makey session fits the standard 45-minute enrichment block: 5 minutes to plug in and demo, 30 minutes of open invention time in pairs, 10 minutes of share-out. No homework, no carry-over prep, no leftover materials to store.
Plug In
Connect via USB to any laptop or Chromebook. No drivers, no install, no admin password needed.
Clip to Anything
Fruit, foil, playdough, water, pencil graphite, paper clips, plants — if it conducts a little, it works.
Hold Earth
One student holds the ground wire — instantly the whole group becomes part of the circuit. Built-in collaboration.
Invent
Touch the surface, trigger sounds, games, animations, or anything programmed in Scratch. Instant payoff.
Product Options by Program Size
The STEM Class 12-Pack
- 12 boards
- Two stations simultaneously
- Rotate groups
- Ideal for BGCA/YMCA
- Volume pricing
Complete Classroom Collection + Volume Quote
- Classroom Collection anchor
- Volume discounts
- Multi-site support
- PO billing
- Rollout consultation
The Funding Your Program Already Has
You don't need a new line item to fund Makey Makey. Below is exactly how each major after-school funding stream maps to a Makey Makey purchase — with the language to use in your narrative.
We used our 21st CCLC budget to buy a class set for our after-school program. The grant language practically wrote itself — it's hands-on STEM enrichment, it's project-based, and the kids are engaged the entire session. We've had zero complaints from the state program reviewer.
Makey Makey Works With Your Network
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Supports BGCA Tech SMART / STEM initiatives. Fits BGCA's positive youth development emphasis — not curriculum-based. Recommended pitch: position as a STEM "center activity" that runs independently.
Recommended as a center activity freeing facilitators to circulate rather than instruct.
YMCA STEM Programming
YMCA emphasizes hands-on exploration and fun. Makey Makey works even if facilitators lack deep STEM background — you don't need to know the answer to run a great session.
YMCA programs often purchase through centralized Y associations — volume quotes and PO billing available.
City-Level Enrichment Programs
Cities fund after-school through Parks & Rec, Youth Services, or libraries. Makey Makey supports formal vendor quoting, net-30 terms, multi-site delivery coordination.
Contact us for a vendor quote letter formatted for municipal procurement review.
Everything Your Program Needs to Launch
21st CCLC Grant Narrative Template
Complete grant narrative with Title IV-B language for Makey Makey purchases. Budget justification language, STEM enrichment framing, outcome statements for state reviewers.
Download Grant Template (.docx)45-Minute Activity Guides (5 Projects)
Five complete session guides for 45-min after-school blocks, zero prep. Materials list, facilitator talking points, what to do if students get stuck, extension ideas.
Download Activity Guides (PDF)Program Size → Product Pairing Guide
One-page visual matching program headcount and session format to the right Makey Makey kit. Designed for program directors, grant writers, and purchasing coordinators.
Download Pairing Guide (PDF)After-School Program Case Study
Real-world example of a semester-long program integration — facilitator prep time, student engagement outcomes, grant report documentation.
Ready to Bring Makey Makey to Your Program?
Whether you're running a single 15-student site or a 200-student multi-site network, we'll match you with the right kits, the right pricing, and the grant language to fund it.
Questions about grant eligibility, volume pricing, or non-profit rates?
education@makeymakey.com