Makers Projects

Example Projects - these are just examples of what could be done so that you have a good idea of how to create your own original project. The possibilities are endless - aim big and shoot for the sky!

Podcast about a Podcast! ($0)

• Choose a podcast to listen closely to for a whole season (or at least 5 hours) and create your own podcast reviewing it. Your podcast choice must be age appropriate, and approved and signed off on by a parent.

  • Here are some lists of podcasts recommended for younger audiences:

    • 20 Best Podcasts for Kids

    • 11 Podcasts Your Kids Should Be Listening To

    • 26 PODCASTS FOR KIDS WE LOVE

  • Create a website for your podcast and post it online for your schoolmates.

  • Write a summary of each episode a few paragraphs long in a blog on your podcast's website.

  • Write a script for and record your own original podcast about the podcast you chose, listened to, and studied. Describe the nature of the podcast you listened to - is it fact-based, or fictional? What’s it about? Who created it? Why? What attracted you to this podcast in the first place? Summarize the information or story in the podcast for your listeners. As you listened to it, what did you learn or by what were you entertained? What were your favorite things about it, and your least favorite things, your favorite episodes and your least favorite? What do you recommend about the podcast to others? What types of people would find this podcast interesting?

  • Up to 2 classmates maximum could co-produce this project together. Each member must do their own, full, blogging for the chosen podcast.

  • Record several podcast episodes sharing your thoughts and experiences about the podcast you listened to and about creating your own podcast.

Create and Code Your Own Original Video Game ($0+)

• • Use CodeMonkey, Scratch, Code.org, Coding with Chrome, a "for Dummies" style book, or a similar coding education tool to create an original video game that is fun, challenging, and well designed.

  • Learn a coding language of your choice well enough to write your own original game program.

  • Document your programming language learning adventure with "badges" from the learning site, blog journal entries, screencast video(s) in which you demonstrate and teach the language to a viewer, or the like.

  • Take a test designed by Mr. Bennett to demonstrate your master of the programming language.

  • Design, code, and create your video game in a fashion that it can be shared with your classmates.

  • Create a webpage for your video game that can be browsed by your classmates. Describe the objective of the game, its rules and techniques, the code logic and design, and share your experience of creating it.

Create a Custom Board Game ($0+)

• • Design and build your own custom chess, checkers, mancala, reversi, backgammon, or similar board game board and 3D printed or digitally etched game pieces. Your board game will be your own unique creation!

  • Design your own game board and build it out of wood, laminated construction paper, sturdy, reinforced cardboard, or the like. Decorate the board using computer graphics, sharpies, or paint.

  • Design your own game pieces based on your favorite superheroes, cartoon characters, schoolmates, or whatever you dream up. Construct your own pieces out of crafts materials, print out plastic game pieces on a 3D printer, or etch wood discs at the library.

  • Make a box, case, or pouch to organize and store your game.

  • Create a webpage for your board game that your classmates can access.

    • Write thorough, easy to understand instructions for playing the game. Include helpful photos or graphics.

    • Make a great How To tutorial video that can be watched by players learning the game.

    • Describe how you made your board game and what the experience was like.

Create a Coding Challenge Robot Maze (new Sphero/Ozobot/Dash’s available from EBay and Amazon starting at $35)

• • Similarly to the Board Game project, design, build, and decorate your own “city” or “maze” and challenges for a programmable robot such as Sphero, Sphero Mini, Ozobot, or Dash. Use cardboard, wood, plastic, fabric, or other materials to construct your maze.

  • Make a webpage for your project for your classmates to access.

    • Write instructions for players to learn the goal of your maze challenge, and instructions on what resources or techniques to utilize to solve it, and how to use them. Use photos, graphics, and/or videos to illustrate.

    • Create a demonstration video depicting your robot completing the challenge, hints and tips for solving it, and so on, and post it on your webpage.

    • Program and provide well documented solution code for classmates to view for help.

Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit ($70 from Amazon)

• Use arduino technology and materials in this “Do It Yourself” (DIY) makers kit to construct your own robot! Visit the item website. Several other similar kinds of kits are available in the "Shopping" section stores listed in the project links.

• Document your experience assembling, operating, and programming the robot on a website for your DIY projects. Use text, graphics, and video to provide others interested directions on how to assemble it from opening the box to finished robot, how to begin programming it, and how to operate it.

• Construct some sort of "challenge" that you then program your robot to solve and demonstrate it to your classmates. Record a video describing this challenge, it's solution, and the robot performing it that can be watched on your website.

Build a Classic Video Game System with Raspberry Pi ($50 - $150+)

• • Use a Raspberry Pi computer board and accessories to make your very own mini computer that plays classic video games from Nintendo, Sega, and many more.

  • Assemble your own accessories; Mr. B can help you select and order them:

    • Required accessories:

      • Raspberry Pi 3, 3B or 3B+ (Raspberry Pi Zero not recommended)

      • Raspberry Pi Case (buy online, or you can 3D print one at the library for extra credit!!)

      • 16bg+ microSD memory card

      • 5V/2.5A micro USB power supply (IMPORTANT: must be 2.5 Amp or better. 1 Amp power supplies will not work properly.)

      • HDMI cable

    • Optional accessories:

      • USB gamepad controller(s)

      • Heatsinks

      • Speaker w/ bluetooth or 3.5 mm audio jack

      • HDMI to VGA with Audio adapter for connecting to older monitors

  • Example kits that contain the necessary parts:

    • MakerSpot Raspberry Pi 3 Model B 8-in-1 Complete Starter Kit included RPi3 and Power Adapter Enclosure 16GB - $47, gamepad controllers not included, keyboard can be used for many games

    • CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 Complete Starter Kit - Includes 32 GB Samsung EVO+ - $70, gamepad controllers not included, keyboard can be used for many games

    • Vilros Raspberry Pi 3 Retro Arcade Gaming Kit with 2 Classic USB Gamepads - $80

    • Vilros V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Retro Arcade Gaming Kit with 2 Classic USB Gamepads [LATEST MODEL 2018] - $90

  • Example instructions can be found on LIfehacker’s website here.

  • Create a website for your Video Game Console and post your own DIY instructions (text, pictures, graphics, and/or videos) for others to follow to make their on RPi classic video game system.

  • Setup up an RPi video arcade at school for your classmates to play games.

Found Your Own Charity Organization

• • Pick a charitable cause to raise funds or items for. Examples are: a pet rescue, food/shelter for the homeless, sick, and elderly, tutoring for young under-privileged students, or new technology for St. Anne's.

  • Create a website for your charitable organization that has all the information an interested person would need to know about your cause and how to donate.

  • Link your charitable organization's home page to a fundraising site such as Go Fund Me and begin accepting donations.

  • Hit the streets and get the word out! Pitch your charity to your schoolmates at a school assembly, to the parishioners at your church after services, outside of stores such as Target and Wal-Mart where you have seen other charitable fundraisers working (make sure to have permission from the store manager!), create hats and t-shirts for your organization to promote and advertise, and where them around town.

  • Document your experiences using a blog on your organization's website.

Publish a Poetry Book

• • Write poetry and collect it into a word processing program such as Google Docs.

  • Use Lulu, Amazon, and/or other similar tools and sites to publish your book as an ebook, paperback, or hardback book that can be purchased by interested readers.

  • Create an author's website for yourself with links to purchase your book, and document your experiences becoming a published author via blog, photos, and video.

  • Hold an author's lecture and book signing event at school or another place where your readers can gather.

Start a How to Cook YouTube Show

• • Choose a name for your show and start a YouTube channel for it.

  • Create a website for your show with information about your show, links to your show's YouTube episodes, written recipes, and a blog about your experiences as a YouTube show producer and cook.

  • Pick or write recipes to demonstrate to others in "how to" fashion how to make a culinary dish. Record and edit them into interesting, artistic, and creative videos.

  • Publish at least 5 episodes and at least 25 total minutes of videos to your YouTube channel.

  • Take all the steps needed to monetize (get paid royalties for) your videos on YouTube.