Makey Makey

Though it’s been around for a while, Scratch remains an extremely reliable coding platform that teachers can use to introduce elementary students to programming and meet them where they are. It’s a super strong beginner-level language with a lot of functionality and was created around graphical coding to serve as a great introductory classroom option for K–8 students.

For this last educator, however, we sent a little something before the start of the new year. Leigh Kuhn is a school librarian at Bondurant Middle School in Frankfort, Ky. and she caught our eye with her ‘STEM to STREAM’ initiative, so we made sure to get her something she can use in the new year!

In June, we announced a new educational technology grant program that awards $500 of STEM tools to one recipient every month. Our selection committee met last week and awarded the first grant to Melinda Pastuszak, a teacher at Chamberlayne Elementary School in Henrico, Va. Mindy is in the process of planning the launch of a new STEAM program!

As we know, STEM has evolved to STEAM, adding art to the mix (as well as some other variations). Technology can be a great way for students to enhance their art classes using tools like conductive paint, virtual reality, or more. It can also be used in music classes, though, creating interactive, exciting, and real world experiences.

The Makey Makey, created by JoyLabz, is one of the most well-known STEAM tools in K-12 education. What exactly is it, though?? Technically, the Makey Makey works like any keyboard or mouse, sending signals to a computer to execute the functions of clicking the mouse or hitting the space bar, right arrow, left arrow, up arrow, or down arrow.

Here’s your chance to do just that. We’re having a FLASH SALE with huge PRICE REDUCTIONS on some of our absolute BEST STEM learning tools. With unbelievable prices on innovative products for robotics, 3D printing, design, and coding, can you (or your students) really afford to miss out? The Dash and Dot kits, Ozobot kits, and more are part of

Our culture empowers everyone to think outside the box, engineer, innovate, and grow. ‘Why be tied down to one place when I could be inventing in my own backyard?’ Joy Labz, creators of one of the original and most popular maker tools (the Makey Makey), has come up with an ingenious solution to this very problem: The Makey Makey GO!

For educators, especially those who may be new to technology and STEM in general, the Makey Makey is an excellent starting point for your lessons. Besides immediately recognizing its catchy name, the Makey Makey is an extremely appealing teaching tool that boosts engagement and maximizes instruction. What does it help you teach? Just about anything you want.

We’re guessing you’re already familiar with both littleBits and the Makey Makey, but, if you’re not, you can learn a bit about them by exploring our blog and store. Basically, littleBits are electronic building blocks that each have their own specific function and allow kids to build inventions with purpose. Read on to learn more about it.

Few modern learning tools are as unique and engaging as Bare Conductive’s Electric Paint. That’s right—it really is paint that carries electricity! What makes it truly sensational for learning is that you can paint or draw just about anything and the paint acts as a conductor. The biggest obstacle, though, is finding a purpose for the paint.