How to Make a Human Fruit Slot Machine for the School Festival

If your PTO is looking for fun school carnival games, this human slot machine takes the cake (er...fruit)! Tyler Rakay, PTO President at Meadowpark Elementary in Port Charlotte, Florida, shares how her PTO took on the fun project of building a life-size human fruit slot machine for their school's festival. Below, you can find step-by-step instructions and the supplies needed to make a human fruit slot machine. Thanks, Tyler, for sharing this fun PTO project with the PTO Today community!

A human fruit slot machine is the exciting and unforgettable game where people become the spinning symbols, and laughter is the real jackpot! Whether you're looking for a fun game for the school carnival or an easy fundraiser for the fall festival, this human slot machine will get students buzzing and excited to come to your PTO events. Below, you'll find a list of supplies you'll need to build a DIY human fruit machine, along with step-by-step instructions and photos.

@tylerrakay Making the Human Slot Game! more details on how to play in the Playlist below 🫡 #fundraiser #nonprofit #diyproject ♬ original sound - Tyler Rakay

Supply list for a human fruit slot machine

• Hot glue gun
• Box cutter
• 4 white tri-fold presentation boards
• Large butcher paper in red
• White scalloped bulletin board border
• Colored construction paper 
• 5 different types of plastic fruits (for a 1 in 5 chance of winning): red and green apples, bananas, oranges, lemons and limes
• Pack of 4 recordable voice buzzer buttons
• A long table to put in front of the slot machine (this is where you'll put the push to play button) 
• Optional: plastic red tablecloth  

Step-by-step instructions for making a human fruit slot machine

1. On the center of the tri-fold board, cut out a large square, leaving about 3 inches from the top and side folds, and 8 to 10 inches from the bottom.

2. Using the first cut out square as a template, cut out squares in 3 boards (total). Put aside the cut out pieces (you'll use them later).

3. Using the 4th tri-fold board, cut a half circle and 2 rectangles to add to the top of your game later.

4. Set up the 3 boards next to each other with the arm flaps against the other, and secure them with the hot glue to create the body of your game. Note: it will be a bit flimsy!

5. Get those 3 cut out pieces you put aside (in step 2) and measure them to fit the width, touching the sides you glued together in step 4. Use another small triangle to glue the shelf to create more stability.

6. Using the half circle and rectangles from the 4th white board (from step 3), glue and secure them to the top of the main game.

7. Now you're ready to decorate! Take one long piece of red Butcher paper and hot glue it to the front side of the game.

8. Once the butcher paper is secured, cut out the 3 main squares, leaving 3 inches of red paper (extra to fold over all the edges).

9. Behind the game, fold over the edges and glue them to the white board.

10. Add your border (white scalloped trim) and cut it to size.

11. Using the construction paper, cut out several yellow circles to glue on to resemble lights. Then, glue a few fruits under the windows to finish the game!

12. Record your buttons: there are 3 specific sounds you'll want to use or record for the human fruit slot machine game (tip: find sounds on YouTube and record the audio):

• When a player pushes the button to take their spin: a sound of a rolling slot machine
• If a player wins: a sound that resembles a slot machine winning jackpot
• If a player loses: a recording that says “aww, try again!”

How to play: instructions for the human fruit slot machine game

@tylerrakay Replying to @sirrah_yanaj Here's what's I got so far!! Human Slot Fundraiser- game details #fundraiser #ptomom #eventplanning ♬ original sound - Tyler Rakay

In total, you'll need four volunteers for the human fruit slot machine: three volunteers to man the game, and one volunteer to take tickets or money and hit the win/loss buttons.

Pricing and prizes are up to your group and your budget. Decide how much you'll charge for each spin - for example, 3 spins for $5, or 5 spins for $8.  Have fun with prizing but keep it simple and affordable - for example, a gift bag of school spirit wear. 

1. The player steps up to take a spin and pushes the button (featuring the sound of a rolling slot machine)

2. Each of the three volunteers manning the booth hold up a piece of fruit at random. Remember, they can't see each other, so they won't know if the player has struck a match!

3. If the player gets a match (meaning all three pieces of fruit are the same), they win! 

And there you have it—everything you need to build a working life-sized human slot machine! Whether you're raising funds for your school or just creating unforgettable memories, your human slot machine will be the talk of the school. Now grab some volunteers, start building, and let the fun spin into action!

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