Maker Projects 

      Brilliant Labs- Maker Centered Learning

      https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/

We are a hands-on, experiential learning platform providing youth with opportunities to develop coding and digital skills. When creativity, innovation and technology are applied to projects supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with a socially responsible entrepreneurial spirit, educators and youth can affect change within their classrooms, curricula, communities, throughout Atlantic Canada, and beyond.

Programs include:

·  Biomaking, https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/biomaking

·  Coding:  https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/Monthly-Coding

·  Sustainable design https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/COTF

·  Projects https://projects.brilliantlabs.ca/projects-list

·  and more.

Brown Dog Gadgets
https://learn.browndoggadgets.com/

Exploratorium Tinkering Studio Projects

https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering/projects

Tinkering is a hands-on learning approach and way to develop understanding about the world. Learning through tinkering relies on direct experiences with real phenomena, things that learners can see and touch. The Tinkering Studio believes that tinkering experiences empower both learners and educators to develop an understanding of science processes and ideas, as well as their own potential as learners. We do this work in the following ways.

    Invent to Learn- Maker Resources
    https://inventtolearn.com/resources/#all

    Invent to Learn Guide to the MicroBit

• Project Guide https://microbit.inventtolearn.com/project-guide

• Code  https://microbit.inventtolearn.com/code

• Videos https://microbit.inventtolearn.com/videos

Maker Education

https://resources.makered.org/

Maker Ed provides training, support, and resources to individuals, institutions, and communities who are integrating maker education into their learning environments.

Maker education is fundamentally about approaches, mindsets, and community – not about stuff – and Maker Ed’s focus on educators and the institutions they work in emerges from our core belief that maker education is about people. We know that people need support, tools, resources and community to fully participate in the opportunities offered. We know that learning is contextual and social, and that for children to get what they need, educators must have what they need. 

MakerEd Project Guides

Make Projects.com

https://makeprojects.com/home

• Resources https://makeprojects.com/resources

Maker Projects for Kids

https://www.makerspaces.com/25-makerspace-projects-for-kids/

Makerspace or STEM projects for kids don’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, some of the best projects use recycled or repurposed items like cardboard or soda bottles which means nothing

Makey-Makey Project Guide
https://makeymakey.com/pages/how-to

We believe that everyone is creative, inventive, and imaginative. We believe that everyone can create the future and change the world. So we have dedicated our lives to making easy use invention kits. With Makey Makey, the world is your construction kit.

TinkerCAD
https://www.tinkercad.com/learn

• 3D Design  https://www.tinkercad.com/3d-design
  If you can dream it, you can build it. From product models to printable parts, 3D design is the first step in making your ideas real.

• Circuits  https://www.tinkercad.com/circuits
  From blinking your first LED to building autonomous robots, we’ll show you the ropes, buttons, and breadboards of electronics.

Watsonville Environmental Science Center-Maker Projects
https://www.watsonvillescienceworkshop.com/all-projects

Maker Activities for the K12 Classroom

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-makerspace-activities-k-12-classroom/

1. Upcycling Activities

Upcycling is using discarded materials to make something new that is even better than the original. Students simply look for discarded items and use their imaginations to make something new. For example, many teachers have their students work on recycled book crafts, such as using books (or book pages) with broken spines to make beautiful projects.

·       Upcycling for the Classroom https://www.weareteachers.com/23-upcycling-hacks-for-the-classroom/

·       https://resources.pepsicorecycling.com/resources/school-recycling-spring-activities/

2. Construction Activities

Students love to build – no matter their age. Even if your students only have paper and tape, you can encourage them to construct something that will hold weight. The classics, such as building towers or bridges, still fit, but you can also have your students use items (such as marshmallows, jelly beans, toothpicks, etc.) to construct forts, dams, or catapults.

·   Spaghetti Bridges  https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/wpi_spag_act_joy

·   Straw Bridges. https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_brid_lesson01_activity2

3. Floating Activities

Working in teams, have your students design and build a boat of cardboard and then host a cardboard regatta. Or, have your students design and build a boat out of aluminum foil to see whose boat can hold the most pennies before it sinks.

  ·   Aluminum Foil Boats  https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/aluminum-foil-boats-float

4. Musical Activities

Easy to adjust for the grade level and student ability, musical makerspace activities are fun for everyone. Little ones will have fun making simple instruments out of makerspace supplies, whereas older students will enjoy building more complex instruments or using computer apps to make music.

·       Chrome Music Lab https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/

·   MIT Edgerton Center  https://fullsteam.mit.edu/week-4-package-making-music-and-sounds/

5. Circuit Activities

There are several circuit activities that can be modified for your class needs. For example, elementary students will have a blast making squishy circuits out of Play-Doh, and middle grade students will be fascinated learning how to make paper LED circuits.

·       Squishy Circuits.  https://squishycircuits.com/

·       Paper LED Circuits.   https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering/projects/paper-circuits

6. Coding Activities

If your school has the technology available, a great way to introduce students to coding is to participate in the annual Hour of Code. This program uses self-guided activities to teach students the basics.

·       Scratch    https://scratch.mit.edu/ideas

·       CS First https://csfirst.withgoogle.com/

·       Microbits https://microbit.org/projects/

7. Cardboard Activities

With cardboard, scissors, and tape, your students can compete in the Cardboard Challenge. You make the rules simple (such the time limit and the amount of cardboard) and you sit back and watch what creative cardboard creations your students design.

·   Cardboard Challenge https://www.tcoe.org/CardboardChallenge

8. Duct Tape Activities

Kids love duct tape, so if you can find opportunities to include it in your makerspace, you will get results. Give students the freedom to use duct tape to come up with their own inventions or guide them with crafts such as duct tape bow ties or wallets.

·   Duct Tape Activities  https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/62648/20-duct-tape-crafts-kids-will-love/

9. Robot Activities

Robotic lessons are fun and can be modified for the grade level you teach. In particular, LEGO Education makerspace has developed maker activities that incorporate robotics starting with simple machines and moving to more advanced activities.

·       Lego Spike Prime https://www.cs2n.org/u/track_progress?id=539

10. Bloxels Activities

Students interested in designing video games will love the chance to play (and learn) with Bloxels. This activity allows students to use blocks and a mobile device to build their own video games.

·       Bioxels. https://www.bloxels.com/