Competition begins!
The Science Museum in London is offering a unique opportunity for children aged 7 and over to get creative and tech-savvy with the Game On workshop. Running from 25th July to 7th August (excluding 6th August), this interactive event is located opposite the Agriculture gallery, Floor 1.
In this workshop, participants will use the "Makey Makey," a little invention kit, to breathe life into cardboard gaming controllers. The Makey Makey includes a board, alligator clips, and various possibilities for fun, making it an ideal tool for transforming everyday objects into touchpads when connected to a computer.
To create their gaming controllers, children will design a layout on cardboard, using materials like aluminum foil to make the buttons conductive. Once the buttons are ready, they will be connected to the Makey Makey inputs, such as the arrow keys for Pacman directions. A ground clip from the Makey Makey will be connected to the player, typically a wrist wire or a foil pad the player touches, completing the circuit when a button is pressed.
When the cardboard button is pressed, it completes the circuit and sends a keyboard press to the computer, allowing the game to recognise the input. This method has been used for similar games and projects, integrating Makey Makey with homemade cardboard and conductive materials to create custom game controllers.
The Game On workshop is just one of the many interactive experiences offered by the Science Museum's Learning team. Every day of the week, they run free science shows, providing fun and educational entertainment for all visitors.
Nicolette Chin, Special Events Developer (Families and Accessible Programmes) at the Science Museum, has overseen the development of these events. She emphasises the importance of making science accessible and enjoyable for everyone, especially children.
With Game On workshops running on weekdays from 12.00-13.30 and 14.30-16.00, and on weekends from 14.30-16.00, there's plenty of opportunity for children to get involved. So, if you're looking for a fun and educational activity this summer, be sure to check out the Game On workshop at the Science Museum!
References:
- Makey Makey Projects
- Instructables: Makey Makey Pacman
- Tinkercad: Makey Makey Pacman
- Graphite Pencil Technique for Makey Makey
- After the engaging Game On workshop, families can explore various topics from fashion-and-beauty to food-and-drink in the museum's spacious home-and-garden area.
- Following the morning session, one can plan a travel adventure to witness the vibrant sports scenes acrossLondon, just as Nicolette Chin continuously seeks to provide diverse and exciting activities for visitors.
- As the sun sets, families can unwind with a meal at a nearby restaurant, reflecting on the creative and tech-savvy lifestyle experienced during the Game On workshop and the Science Museum's other innovative offerings.
