FOR K–12 CLASSROOMS
10 Projects That Turn Any Classroom Into an Invention Lab
Makey Makey lets students turn bananas, Play-Doh, and everyday objects into touchpads and game controllers — no experience required. Explore the projects teachers love most, across every grade and subject.
No coding to start
Plug in, clip on, play. Many projects work right out of the box.
Works in every subject
Science, music, ELA, math, even PE. Makey Makey fits your curriculum.
K–12 friendly
From kindergarten banana pianos to high-school engineering challenges.
Real maker skills
Circuits, conductivity, coding, and the engineering design process.
One Tool. Every Subject.
Makey Makey is one of the few tools that can credibly claim cross-curricular use without stretching the definition.
Science
- •Conductivity and circuits through hands-on experimentation
- •Scientific method: hypothesis → prototype → test → iterate
- •Materials science
- •Biology: plant conductivity and the human body as a circuit
Technology & Engineering
- •Introduction to input/output logic
- •Prototyping and physical computing
- •Engineering design process: build, test, fail, improve
Math
- •Build interactive math manipulatives
- •Logical sequencing and conditional thinking
- •Spatial reasoning through circuit design
Language Arts
- •Build interactive story maps and narrative timelines
- •Create choose-your-own-adventure games
- •Write, perform, and present invention stories
Social Studies
- •Interactive geography maps
- •History timelines students can "walk through"
- •Civics: build interactive voting machines
Music & Arts
- •Compose and perform using conductive materials
- •Visual art that plays sounds when touched
- •Theater with props that respond to touch
Physical Education
- •Body-controlled games requiring physical movement
- •Dance pads and movement-based controllers
- •Reaction time games
The 10 Most Popular Classroom Projects
Tap a project to see its free step-by-step guide.
Banana Piano
Clip on a banana and play a tune — the project that started it all. Pure 'how does that work?!' magic.
DIY Musical Instruments
Design bongos, drums, or a pan flute from Play-Doh and everyday objects, then play them with code.
Custom Game Controller + Scratch Game
Code a game in Scratch, then build a controller from cardboard and Play-Doh. The #1 Makey Makey lesson in schools.
Whack-a-Mole / Fruit Catcher
Build a controller for a fast-paced arcade game students beg to play again and again.
Simple Circuits & 'Is It Conductive?'
Test what conducts electricity, then build simple and parallel circuits. The science behind the fun.
Operation-Style Steady-Hand Game
Don't touch the sides! Build a buzzer game that's secretly a circuits lesson in disguise.
Magnetic / Sensory Maze
Design a maze with Play-Doh walls and navigate with a magnet — iterate and improve like a real engineer.
Interactive Posters & Research Displays
Students research a topic and wire their poster to play facts and audio when you touch it. Works in any subject.
Interactive Blackout Poetry
Turn old book pages into poems that speak when touched. Proof Makey Makey isn't just for STEM.
DIY Dance Dance Revolution Floor
Build a foil dance pad and code a step-to-the-beat game. High-energy, whole-body learning.
100+ Ready-To-Teach Projects & Lessons
Welcome to the ultimate hub for busy educators. Our Alligator Clip Academy contains over 100 carefully designed, standards-aligned lessons and activities. Every project is ready to go—meaning you can walk into your classroom and start teaching with zero prep today.
Zero Prep Needed
All resources include ready-made slide decks, worksheets, and step-by-step videos to keep students self-directed.
Standards Aligned
Aligned with NGSS, ISTE, and Common Core standards to easily fit your existing curriculum goals.
100% Free Forever
Open-access educational projects. No paywalls, subscription models, or hidden fees.
For Any Grade (K-12)
Filtered by difficulty, grade range, and subject matter so you find exactly what you need in seconds.
Academy Statistics
Makey Makey Project Library
Browse 316+ videos by subject. Search the full library or jump to Alligator Clip Academy.
Find a Project Fast
See Makey Makey in Real Classrooms
Teachers and students are sharing what they're building. Here's one of our favorites.
"[PLACEHOLDER teacher quote — replace with a real testimonial]"
— [PLACEHOLDER Name, Role, School]
1,000+
Schools using Makey Makey
100+
Free guides in Labz
52+
Countries worldwide
Loved by Teachers Everywhere
"Makey Makey has transformed how my students think about technology. They went from consumers to creators in just one class period."
Sarah M.
5th Grade STEM Teacher
Lincoln Elementary, CA
"The ROI is incredible. We bought class packs 4 years ago and they're still going strong. No other STEM tool comes close to this durability."
Michael R.
Technology Director
Jefferson School District, TX
"My students with learning differences especially love Makey Makey. It gives them a tangible way to interact with computers that other tools can't match."
Jennifer L.
Special Education Teacher
Roosevelt Middle School, NY
Every project comes with a free guide
Step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and Scratch starter projects — all free in Makey Makey Labz.
Ready to start inventing?
Get a classroom kit and bring hands-on invention to every student.
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