
Our library makerspace has become quite popular lately. I have students constantly asking me when they can participate in the next makerspace or "unmakerspace", as it was today.
Today I asked second through fifth grade teachers to send down two students from each class. I had a total of ten students working in partners taking things apart (we are a small school). As students took apart a hard drive, Xbox, laptop, drill and cell phone, we noticed how incredibly they work together. They shared tools and took turns with who got to use them. They helped each other and genuinely enjoyed the challenge of taking apart something carefully and methodically. When it came time to return to classes, we all couldn't believe how quickly time had passed!
Last week our makerspace challenge was for students to built a cotton ball launcher out of a plastic spoon, toilet paper roll, rubber bands, paper clips, pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks. I had grades K-5 join us and partnered older students with younger ones. Oh my was it fun to see them working together! They created some pretty interesting launchers. Once students were done, they tested it five times, measured each one and then recorded their farthest launches. Everyone enjoyed seeing the different designs people came up with and discussing which designs worked the best.
Today I asked second through fifth grade teachers to send down two students from each class. I had a total of ten students working in partners taking things apart (we are a small school). As students took apart a hard drive, Xbox, laptop, drill and cell phone, we noticed how incredibly they work together. They shared tools and took turns with who got to use them. They helped each other and genuinely enjoyed the challenge of taking apart something carefully and methodically. When it came time to return to classes, we all couldn't believe how quickly time had passed!
Last week our makerspace challenge was for students to built a cotton ball launcher out of a plastic spoon, toilet paper roll, rubber bands, paper clips, pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks. I had grades K-5 join us and partnered older students with younger ones. Oh my was it fun to see them working together! They created some pretty interesting launchers. Once students were done, they tested it five times, measured each one and then recorded their farthest launches. Everyone enjoyed seeing the different designs people came up with and discussing which designs worked the best.