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World Maker Faire and Education Forum Trouble viewing this page? Go to our diagnostics page to see what's wrong. Make Your Own Robot: Easy Robot Projects Kids Can Build Make your own robot! These easy robot projects are just the ticket for getting started making your own robots at home. Getting kids to make their own robots is not only fun but an awesome educational experience. Use this new Homeschool Unit Study to get started. We gathered together a selection of the very best make a robot videos from YouTube and put them here for you and your kids. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Make Your Own Robot! I know some of you will want to do these projects with your kids but you don’t have the supplies on hand and you don’t have a lot of time to mess around finding everything you would need. If that sounds like you, just grab these inexpensive kits to start and see if your kids enjoy doing them. Tin Can Robot Kit Doodling Robot Kit Brush Robot Kit Make Your Own Miniature Robots Miniature Robots Workshop from Make. Make a Walking Robot Make a Rowing Boat Robot
Literary Hoots: Constellations & Astronomy for Kids This was an after school program that I put on for kids. (See all my kids' programs here!) Basically, I love all things astronomy (here's another kids' craft and a storytime), so it was only a matter of time before I got an actual astronomer in here to talk about constellations. [Insert picture of Astronomer lecturer here...] Yeah, I forgot to take a picture. Anyway, I was able to find a willing expert astronomer from our local astronomy club. And with that introduction, the kids were free to begin our craft: constellation viewers! Super simple, but lots of fun. Here's the view: Pretty cool, right?? The constellation sheet comes from space.about.com, but they're backwards. Click to get larger version to print. So I would say this program was a total success. Also, books were available for check-out! The Stars: A New Way to See Them Written by H. NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe Written by Terence Dickinson Scholastic Discover More: Night Sky Written by Giles Sparrow
Digital Publishing Platform for Magazines, Catalogs, and more Designing a School Makerspace Makerspaces, STEAM labs, and fab labs are popping up in schools across the country. Makerspaces provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering and tinkering. A makerspace is not solely a science lab, woodshop, computer lab or art room, but it may contain elements found in all of these familiar spaces. Cardboard construction Prototyping Woodworking Electronics Robotics Digital fabrication Building bicycles and kinetic machines Textiles and sewing Designing a space to accommodate such a wide range of activities is a challenging process. Some schools have chosen to incorporate makerspaces within multiple classroom spaces. Ask the Right Questions Because of the constantly evolving activities that a makerspace accommodates, a flexible design is critical from the outset. What range of subjects will be taught in the space? Which tools are most needed? Who are the kids that will be using the space?
NOVA - Official Website | School of the Future School of the Future PBS Airdate: September 14, 2016 NARRATOR: Children: our most valuable resource; in a rapidly changing world, how are we preparing them for the future? LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND (Learning Policy Institute Stanford University): Our kids are going to have to work with knowledge that hasn't been discovered yet, on technologies that haven't been invented yet. NARRATOR: How can schools today help students of all backgrounds meet the challenges of tomorrow? LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND: Inequality in the United States is our Achilles' heel. SAL KHAN (Khan Academy): We want a world where, regardless of where you are born, you have got an equal shot. NARRATOR: Can science help us find a way to give all children an equal shot? PAMELA CANTOR (Turnaround for Children): We shouldn't be asking kids to beat the odds. NARRATOR: Today's researchers are peering into the brain, trying to unlock the secrets of how children learn. KEN MCFARLANE (Marcus' Father): What does that say? MARCUS: Autumn? Cut it.
Let It Glow Holiday Cards Favorited Favorite 11 Introduction Craft a glowing card for friends and family this holiday season with paper circuits - no soldering required! This tutorial will guide you through how to create simple paper circuitry using only copper tape, a coin cell battery, a LilyPad Button Board, and an LED, and it will leave you with a basic understanding of how circuits work. Paper engineer and pop up book designer Robert Sabuda allowed us to adapt some of his free templates for use with electronics. We'll be covering the electronics build in this tutorial and linking to Robert's instructions for the pop up cards. Why Aren't We Soldering? You may have seen Nick's awesome Father's Day Card tutorial and are wondering why this one is different. Suggested Reading If you are brand new to working with electronics, here's some helpful reading to check out: Materials and Tools Here is a list of all the materials and tools you'd need to follow along: A note on LEDs: Step 1: Print Templates Line A Line B Line C
Build a Cardboard Guitar – Joylabz Official Makey Makey Store Introduction You have probably made wonderful music with Makey Makey and a few bananas. That is pretty cool, but just doesn't quite cut it when it comes to laying down a new track. This project is a guitar, but that doesn't mean that you have to make yours as a guitar. What You Need to Know... Crafting Skills Coding Skills Time Investment Background Information This activity is our starting point if you are new to creating and building circuits with Makey Makey! Getting Started with Makey Makey Learn about what a circuit is and the basics of electricity and conductivity to build your first paper circuit! Build a conductivity tester that uses Makey Makey to help you figure out what materials are conductive and which ones aren't! Use bananas or any other produce to build circuits and turn them into piano keys using Makey Makey and our free Piano App! Don’t worry, we will wait right here for you if you want to go and explore! Tools and Materials Tools Materials Need Supplies? Craft a Cardboard Guitar
Make Your Mark Volume Three Edited By: Jocelyn K. Glei / Foreword: Scott Belsky Finally, a business book for makers, not managers. Are you ready to “make a dent in the universe”? We tapped 21 leading entrepreneurs and experts to share their best practices for launching a purpose-driven business, refining your product, delighting your customers, inspiring your team—and ultimately—making something that matters. Contributors “Make Your Mark” will show you how to: Find the perfect alignment between your unique talents and what the world needs. Praise for Make Your Mark “This is not a book. “At the end of our lives we will look back and ask ourselves, "Was it worth it?" “Make Your Mark has managed to distill the essential wisdom of some of the best creative entrepreneurial minds of our time into an easy-to-read, but hard-to-forget guide. Watch the trailer for Make Your Mark About the Editor Jocelyn K. Founding Editor, 99U A writer and the founding editor of 99U, Jocelyn K. Follow her @jkglei
(Rethinking) Makerspaces Kids have always made in my library. We encouraged digital and visual and dramatic and rhetorical creativity before, during, and after school. But for a while, I’ve questioned the value of using already heavily used real estate to randomly carve out space for a 3D printer, electronics stations and sewing machines. I had my doubts about the makerspace movement in school libraries. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with Amos Blanton, project manager of the Scratch online community, and a member of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Lab. On his profile Amos notes: I design and sustain creative learning environments for people with agency. Amos makes the case for makerspaces as powerful, authentic, relevant learning experiences, and for when and why library may be the very right space to create a makerspace. Here’s the video of our chat and a few of key points to consider before adopting a maker culture for libraries Amos’ key points:
DIY Walkers - Home Crafts For Kids - Tons of Art and Craft Ideas for Kids to Make Ready for a fantastic crafting session with your kids or students? We have a ton of engaging art and craft for kids to make and you’ll find ideas for all ages and for all occasions. We have hundreds of easy to make ideas with simple step by step tutorials you and your kids will easily follow. Our aim is to make crafting fun and frugal – with supplies most households already have at hand (or won’t cost you a fortune). Some of our Latest Projects: Sections we’ll cover SeasonsHolidaysOther themesBy Material (animals, vehicles…) Kids Crafts Ideas by Seasons Spring – a wonderful selection of frugal and fun spring themed crafts for kids to make. Summer – great project ideas to make with your kids during summer break Fall – lots of easy project using both store bought crafting materials as well as materials from nature Winter – easy ideas to make during cold winter days when you are stuck inside Crafting Through the Holidays and Celebrations Our St. Father’s day crafts for kids will make any dad proud.
Earthquake STEM Challenge In this Earthquake STEM challenge students will work in teams to learn more about Earthquakes and then build a shake table and seismograph. Using these tools, students will be structural engineers as they design buildings that can withstand the movement of earthquakes. This hands on Earthquake activity is a fantastic way to explore the science and engineering in the study of earthquakes. EARTHQUAKE STEM Challenge and Unit Study Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. Have you ever felt the ground you are standing on or your house shake and wonder what that was? Earthquake STEM Project Video Tutorial Check out the video of this Earthquake STEM project. Now before we start building, let’s learn about Earthquakes! What is an Earthquake? What causes Earthquakes? Earthquakes are caused by the shaking, rolling or a sudden shock of the Earth’s surface. The Earth’s surface is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each of one those puzzle pieces are called Tectonic Plates. Pro Tip!