Makey Makey Chem Lab

I made a project that teaches young people what a chemical reaction can lead to and why one should be careful. I created it because I know that I always found science interesting, and I thought this was a good way to include my hobbies in this project. This project was made for a younger audience who like science but don’t know much about it. This project would then help them to start to understand how things in our world coincide with one another and how science can be cool and not just boring.

I used:

A cardboard slab to put my project on, pictures from the internet of the substances I will be demonstrating the chemical reaction between, paper clips to conduct an electrical reaction, popsicle sticks so it can be 3d and be supported, and wrapping paper so that it can look good.

Getting the Materials

I got the cardboard from a box in my garage. I got the wrapping paper from my basement. I got the tape from my garage. I got the pictures from the internet and then printed them out at the library. I got the paper clips from an excess pile in my drawer. I got the popsicle sticks from the pile of reusable objects at school.

Building the Project

I first cut the cardboard so it was a good size and shape so that my project would fit on top of it. I then bended the paper clips so that they were in a U like shape. Next, I put the wrapping paper on top of the cardboard and taped it down. After that I started to put holes in the cardboard and wrapping paper for the paper clips to go. Then I taped the paper clips to the pieces of paper depicting the objects that could perform a chemical reaction. After that I glued everything to the wrapping paper and put the paper clips through the wholes I had made. Finally, I bent the cardboard and used popsicle sticks to support it so that it wouldn’t collapse either at the bend site or another crease in the cardboard.

Connecting to Makey Makey

First, I connected all of the alligator clips to the Makey Makey. Next, I connected all of the alligator clips to their corresponding paper clips. Finally, I tested my project out by touching the earth of the Makey Makey, and the paper clip below the object I wanted to move on my scratch program. When I touched both the earth and the paper clip my project worked!

Creating my scratch project

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/612381108

First, I created a new scratch project in my account and titled it Makey Makey Chem Lab. Then I started to download sprites onto my project and edit them to be the right size. I also added subtitles saying what the object was so there was no confusion. Next, I started writing the code for the sprites. I started by creating a list and variables to make sure that only one solid and one liquid could be clicked at once so there weren't multiple liquids or solids being combined because that would ruin the project. Then I programmed each chemical reaction so that there would be an explosion that is exaggerated if there was a chemical reaction, but a sign saying "incorrect" if there was not. Finally, I connected all of the substances both solids and liquids, to the system so people playing and learning with my project would understand what a chemical reaction is and what is not.

Playing the whole project

First turn on the Makey Makey and connect it to your computer. Then connect the alligator clips to the corresponding paperclips. Next click which ever substances you would like to combine and watch as they will float to the middle. This will only happen though if you are touching the base because that will complete the electrical circuit. If there is a chemical reaction, then there will be an exaggerated explosion. If there is not a chemical reaction, then it will display an incorrect sign.

My project works by combining transferring an electrical current from the earth, through your body, into the paper clip and the desired key that will set off a reaction to my scratch code. This specific substance that you will clicked will combine with the other substance you have picked to either give one of two messages. Either there will be a chemical reaction or there will not. When playing the project make sure not to click two different substances at the same time because that can break the program temporarily.