Pontiac Maker Faire Experience

Why the " Maker Movement" is important to 21st Century Learning?

Learn from Pontiac Elementary's experiences in developing a School MakerFaire. See how you can create a festival of invention, resourcefulness and creativity. This is part science fair, part technology expo, and part circus. Pontiac’s MakerFaire featured opportunities for students to explore STEM/ STEAM concepts in person and hands-on.

As teachers in a school where students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, our students are faced with the challenges of finding ways to come together as a community. Despite the many challenges they face, we are looking to develop on our students desire to be involved with the world and our community. They are excited to explore and create as they expand their critical thinking in ways that promote collaboration between themselves and their peers. They take pride in their work and are willing to challenge their minds through hands-on making. Our idea was to create a festival of invention, resourcefulness and creativity to encourage student interest in STEM/ STEAM careers and tools. We decided to develop a MakerFaire. It was part science fair, part technology expo, and part circus. A Maker Faire is a gathering of tech-enthusiasts, crafters, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists and more. Pontiac’s Maker Faire will feature opportunities for students to learn, observe and explore these areas in person. Join us as we share the "Dos and Don'ts" of designing your own school MakerFaire event. Come and learn from our experiences, and take away a step-by-step guide for building your own experience.