Makey Makey is an invention kit that turns everyday conductive objects into computer keyboard and mouse keys. Bananas, modelling clay, aluminium foil, pencil drawings and even people can become buttons. The kit was developed by Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum in the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab.

The board connects to a computer with a USB cable, and the computer recognises it as an ordinary keyboard and mouse. When the user touches the Earth connection and a connected object at the same time, the circuit closes. The computer then receives a keypress or mouse command. No software installation or programming skills are needed.

Makey Makey is well suited to introducing electrical circuits, input and output, and design thinking. Students can build a fruit piano, draw a game controller in pencil, or make a computer mouse out of modelling clay. The kit also works with Scratch projects.

What makes Makey Makey special?

Simple! No drivers or software – plug in the USB cable and start.
Creative! Almost any conductive object can become a button.
Educational! Shows how circuits and computer input devices work.
Expandable! Extra inputs on the back of the board give up to 18 remappable keys and mouse commands.
Compatible! Works with Windows, macOS, Linux and Chromebook.

The Makey Makey Classic kit includes:
1 controller board
1 mini-USB cable
10 alligator clip leads, five colours
8 connector wires, different colours

Age: 7+
Quantity: 7 sets