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Makerspaces and Centers

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Origami club. Fold 'N Fly » Paper Airplane Folding Instructions. Maker Monday: Super Spinner. This cool Maker Monday Super Spinner is fun to make and to play with.

Maker Monday: Super Spinner

The supplies can be readily found in most households for an inexpensive activity that still packs a wow factor. It’s interesting to see how different designs and colors look once the disc begins spinning. Supplies: Corrugated cardboard Paper Markers Scissors Glue stick String Sharp pencil or skewer Use a small bowl or pot lid that’s about 4-5 inches in diameter to trace 1 circle on the cardboard and 2 circles on the paper. Cut out the paper circles and the cardboard circle. Spread the glue stick glue on one side of the cardboard disc. Cut a piece of string about 28 inches long. Pull the loop with one end in each hand, arranging the disc in the center. Maker Monday: Recycled Bag Jump Rope. This week’s Maker Monday gives a lesson in re-using and re-purposing objects that end up getting tossed.

Maker Monday: Recycled Bag Jump Rope

Our Recycled Bag Jump Rope is a fun activity in itself. Using your jump rope to play with friends provides an outlet for burning energy and keeping fit. Depending on where Mom and Dad shop, you can mix and match different colors. The rope can be made to fit as long or as short as it needs to be. The supplies needed are minimal and readily available in most households. Creatability. Who made these?

Creatability

These experiments were a collaborative effort by Jay Alan Zimmerman, Claire Kearney-Volpe, Kyle Philips, Yotam Mann, Luisa Pereira, Use All Five, and Google Creative Lab. Special thanks to Chancey Fleet, Josh Miele, James Maxson, and friends at Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center, Tech Kids Unlimited, and ADAPT Community Center. What can you do with them? The experiments explore a diverse set of inputs, from mouse, keyboard, body, wrist, nose, or voice. Creatability. (55) Pinterest. Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

The Science Spot. Daily CSI Challenges I created Daily CSI Challenges for this class to target observation and problem solving skills as well as incorporate trivia to review class material or highlight historical cases and people.

The Science Spot

Students use a Daily CSI bookmarks (PDF) to record their answers and I grade the bookmarks at the end of each week. I organize these into weekly folders on my computer to make it easier to find the ones I want to use. Catapult Challenge — Vivify STEM. The Challenge Design and build two catapults.

Catapult Challenge — Vivify STEM

Each catapult will undergo three different tests to determine accuracy and power. I have tried several versions of this challenge with my middle school students, and I believe the most successful activity is to have students build two catapults. STEM Family Night Planning Guide — Vivify STEM. The Lego Librarian – Blogging about Lego Clubbin and other library program ideas. Easy Crafts for Kids. Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love. Do you want to make poetry so fun and engaging that your students will ask for more?

Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love

Here are some simple activities to get you started. 1. Origami Instructions - Instructions on How to Make Origami. Makerspace Playbook Feb 2013. Collaborating and Making in the Library Learning Commons. Science Activities to Try Next Year. Are you looking for compelling science activities to try in your library? If so, take a look at the resources and tips below for inspiration! Science in the Library AnnMarie Hurtado, the Youth Services Librarian for Central Library in Pasadena, CA, shares amazing lessons on her “Science in the Library” blog.

Hurtado offers PowerPoint slideshows, videos, and reflections so you can start implementing exciting learning experiences in your library. Digital curation: A makerspace guide. Why can’t a library be fun? – freshly minted librarian. Oregon City Public Library on Instagram: “Oh, it's so #bleeping on. Blackout #poets, unite! #blackoutpoetry #Aprilis #nationalpoetrymonth #youreapoetandjustdontknowit #OregonCity…” 114 Tips to Create a STEAM Makerspace in Schools.

Do you ever wonder what you should include in a STEAM Makerspace in schools?

114 Tips to Create a STEAM Makerspace in Schools

Maybe you’ve received some grant funding, or maybe you have a great PTA who is willing to help you create a starter STEAM lab. STEM Challenge for Kids: Design a Paper Plate Marble Maze. 28 Awesome STEM Challenges for the Elementary Classroom. Ever wonder what STEM challenges to serve up to your students?

28 Awesome STEM Challenges for the Elementary Classroom

Here is an amazing list of clever, unique and simple set up STEM lesson plans from other teachers. You’re going to love what your students come up with and the number of standards you can meet with these. There is a range of grade level ideas K-5 in this list. source: allabout3rdgrade.com. 10 FUN Homemade Marble Run Ideas. 6 Amazing Things About TAB Classrooms. Sometimes good ideas precede general acceptance.

6 Amazing Things About TAB Classrooms

There’s no pedagogy in art education this is more true for than TAB. When Katherine Douglas, Pauline Joseph, and John Crowe pioneered this teaching method in the 1970s they weren’t trying to revolutionize the way art is taught, but the work they were doing was so powerful more and more teachers followed their example. Today, TAB, which stands for Teaching for Artistic Behavior, has never been more popular. Presentations about the approach fill up fast, social media sites dedicated to the practice have memberships in the thousands, and gurus like Ian Sands are invited to be keynote speakers at conferences. TAB has reason to be so popular. The days of one-size-fits-all projects are gone. 1. 250+ Makerspace Resources - FREE EBOOK. How to Start a Makerspace When You're Broke. Everyone’s Favorite Excuse I’ve had the honor and privilege of sharing with hundreds of librarians and educators about our makerspace.

How to Start a Makerspace When You're Broke

Unfortunately, I see many educators hold back on starting a makerspace because of funds. I’m always hearing excuses like: “I’d love to do (insert cool Maker activity) at my school, but we don’t have a budget for that.” “We can’t really afford a 3D printer right now.” What many people don’t realize is that the idea that you need a lot of money to start a Makerspace is a myth. Share Your Vision with ALL THE PEOPLE. 28 Days of Hands-On STEM Activities for Kids - Left Brain Craft Brain. Combining Holidays Around the World & STEM! Have you ever thought about combining your social studies topics with science or STEM projects?

Well, that is what I have been trying to do this year, and in this post I am going to tell you about a few of the ideas I have for December! We won’t have time to do them all, but I wanted to just throw them out there so that if any of you want to try them, you’ll have time to make it happen. Sound interesting? Read on to find out more! DIY & Crafts Archives. Pinterest. Heart pillow (no-sew) Have a look at this easy way to make such a pillow from felt fabric or polar fleece (the cloth must threadless). You need felt fabric (polar fleece) in two different colors, scissors, and wadding (cotton) to stuff the pillow with, when it is ready. Put the fabrics one over the other. Recycled Art Sculpture. Defining Makerspaces: What the Research Says. Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with criticism. I was told (not to my face) by a visitor to our school that our library makerspace is not a “real makerspace”.

This same person stated that our woodshop is a “real makerspace” because it has power tools. 100 Free LEGO Learning Printables - Renée at Great Peace. 5 Makerspace Books You Need to Read. There’s so many amazing books coming out now related to starting a school makerspace, and many of them are fantastic. But for this post, I want to take a look back and focus on the five books that had the biggest impact on me as I was planning and creating my makerspace at Stewart Middle Magnet School.

This was back in late 2013/early 2014, when there wasn’t a ton of stuff out there that specifically focused on school makerspaces. Build your own: LEGO DUPLO shadow theater - Articles - Family LEGO.com. Lego Movie Review & 10 Lego Activities for Kids. LEGO Challenge Cards - The Stem Laboratory. FREE Printable LEGO Challenge Cards - A Few Shortcuts. This post may contain affiliate links. Kids getting bored? LEGO Math Challenge Cards and Activities. Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls – Learning, Play, STEM Activities, and Thing to Do!

Printable LEGO challenge card game for all ages. How to Create Makerspace Procedures That Work. Kids LEGO Activities Our Best LEGO Learning Ideas for Kids. The best kids LEGO activities ever! LEGO® is one of the most awesome and versatile play materials out there. Ever since my son connected his first LEGO® bricks, he was in love. Sound Science for Kids: Make a Craft Stick Harmonica. DIY Constellation Projector. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my newsletter, PGPB Weekly for updates, FREE printables and weekly special offers! You can also find all our most recent posts on Facebook, Twitter, and sneak peeks of our activities and behind the scenes looks at our family life on Instagram. Please note, this post may contain affiliate links or product reviews for which we may receive compensation.

For more details, please see our Terms & Conditions and Sponsors pages. Thanks for visiting! Like most preschool fascinations, I’m not entirely sure how it began. While our study of the stars started with books about stars for kids, nothing can replace the learning experience of hands-on play. The Stories Behind Constellations First, we read a few stories about constellations appropriate for preschoolers.

25 Awesome STEM Challenges for Kids (with Inexpensive or Recycled Materials!) Corkboard Connections: Creating the Tallest Cup Tower: A STEM Challenge. 4 Engineering Challenges for Kids (Cups, Craft Sticks, and Cubes!) STEM Activity for Kids: Popsicle Stick Catapults. Untitled. Tumblr. NPR Choice page. Making Math Fun! 6 Early Finisher Activities Featuring Works of Art. Build a Lego Pinball Game. 11 Unexpected Ways To Play With LEGOs. STEM and Children’s Literature: 3 Classroom Resources.

40 STEM Activities for Kids - Playdough To Plato. Learning in Progress: Library Centers for Kindergarten & First Grade. Mrs Lodges Centers. FREE Lego Challenge Printable STEM Activities. W5D1. Makerspace Materials Supply List. Elementary Library Makerspace Resources. About - MISD Makerspaces.