Lamar students create games, controllers out of everyday objects

Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

Lamar Middle School students are putting their imagination to work and challenging other middle school students to do the same with Makey Makey – an invention kit for students to use art and engineering skills to turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the Internet.

When visitors walk into LMS’ library, they see a room buzzing with creativity. Throughout the year, any student is welcomed to participate in Maker Mondays – a creative outlet for students to design and create objects like catapults and now Makey Makey computer games and controllers.

“I think Maker Mondays helps us channel our imaginative side and allows us to burst out of our shell to make cool things that are not just cool to our school, but to other schools across the country,” LMS student Mihir Cherukupalli said.

During a Google Hang Out with Stewart Middle Magnet School (SMMS) in Tampa, Fla., LMS’ Maker students were challenged by SMMS students to create a game on Scratch and design a game controller with Makey Makey microcontrollers – a free programming language and online community to create interactive stories, games and animations.

And Lamar Middle School in Flower Mound brought results. Students used ordinary objects like a telephone, Legos and other random household items to control games and musical instruments of their choice.

To share their results, LMS hosted an inaugural Mini-Maker Fair where each student and/or group set up their games in an exhibitor style and then they Skyped with SMMS to showoff their inventions.

“We are hoping to inspire the students in Florida to make something for the challenge,” LMS Librarian Colleen Graves said. “We look forward to seeing their creations in the future.”

See the different games and controllers made by LMS students here.

Learn more about LMS’ #makemakeychallenge journey here.

See photos from the Mini-Maker Fair here.

Elizabeth Haas is part of the public relations team for the Lewisville Independent School District.