STEAM Mini Maker Kit & Station
Get making at home! Create your own Mini Maker Kit and Station that are portable and fun!
Be respectful! Always ask for permission before taking things for your projects!
Steps for putting it all together
Find a box to hold your maker supplies
Add small containers to hold stuff
Walk around your house looking for things that you could create with
You may need a few days to collect recyclables, as your family uses the contnets - be patient
See the list of suggested supplies you could use to create with below
Organize supplies in your box or neatly in another place
Always ask your family for permission to use and put in your Mini Maker Kit, every time, before you begin
Talk with your family about a place you can create and store your Mini Maker Kit and additional supplies (trash bags work well to hold larger supplies)
Think about and respectfully share your ideas with your family, before you start, about how you will be sure to clean up each day
Before making certain projects, research a little bit about it before you make and while you are making. You can use any resources you can find online to help you.
Talk to your family and friends about your ideas and if you get stuck. Anyone can help you.
Plan a way to take a picture or video of your project and how it worked out.
Share your pictures and/or video with your family, friends, teacher and class
Send your creative solution to the challenge as a picture or video file or send your video link to be uploaded through the Cre8 InnOv8 Elev8 Google Form. Click here.
One Way to Create a Mini Maker Kit and Portable Station
Find some recyclable boxes, plastic containers, and even cardboard tubes.
Draft a sketch with your plan to make it.
Cut and arrange the parts of your Mini Maker Kit. Put them in place to see if they fit the way you expect. Add a few supplies to see what works and what you might change.
Add some finishing touches with leftover wrapping paper or other decorative supplies.
Mini Maker Station Location
Choose a place in your home to make your projects
Try to find a spot that is not used all the time by your family
Ask your family if it's okay to create there
Plan to clean up everyday and store your project and supplies
Mini Maker Station Location Ideas:
Any table
Part of a kitchen counter
A desk
Floor space, out of the way
A bedroom, yours or tell your family about what you are doing if you share a bedroom
Any other room or space in your house where you can make and create
Respectfully asking to use supplies
Always ask your family for permission to use supplies and put them in your Mini Maker Kit, every time, before you begin
Talk with your family about a place you can create and store your Mini Maker Kit and additional supplies (trash bags work well to hold larger supplies)
Think about and respectfully share your ideas with your family, before you start and about how you will be sure to clean up each day
If you need supplies that are bought at the grocery store, ask your family if they can be put on the weekly list. Tell them exactly how much you think you need and tell about what they are needed for in the project.
If you need supplies from another type of store, first check for your own money and offer to help buy the suppplies, even if all you have are pennies. Tell them how much you think you need and what these special supplies are needed for you to complete your project.
Suggested supplies to create with
Maker Kit
Mini Maker Kit - Box to hold making supplies
Smaller boxes or recycled plastic organizers to hold your basic supplies
Another box or bag to hold larger supplies
Basic Arts & Crafts Supplies
Scissors
Ruler or any straight edge
What is a straight edge? A stiff piece of cardboard or plastic to draw straight lines for cutting and that can use non-
standard measurements to estimate where to cut project pieces.
Stapler
Pencils
Pens
Markers
Crayons
Building supplies
Cardboard - food boxes, tissue boxes, shipping boxes
Cardboard tubes
Cups, various sizes
Cereal box trays
Plastic milk containers
Wrapping paper
Colorful art paper or construction paper
Scrap paper, computer printing paper or backs of junk mail
Junk mail magazines or postcards
Any paper of different sizes
Tissue paper
Newspaper
Envelopes
Straws
Plastic water bottles
Plastic bottle, juice container caps
Paper or plastic cups
Paper plates
Stickers
Scrapbooking cut outs or other cut outs
Board game pieces - ask if it’s okay and be sure to return them to the game
Any cool or unusual things that you’d like to build with or polish and fancy up your creations (beads, buttons,
Always ask if it's okay to use these and get just the amount you need for one project
Adhesives (glues) and fasteners
Always ask your family for permission to use and put in your Mini Maker Kit, every time, before you begin.
Twist ties
Paper clips
String, twine, fishing line
Floral wire
Clear tape
Wide, thicker, clear tape (packing tape)
Masking tape, any colors
Duct tape
Colorful tape
Glue
Advanced supplies that could be added
Ask an adult to help you with these if younger than 14
Tools
Pliers
Screwdriver
Hammer & nails
Screws
Box cutter/utility knife
Xacto knife
Cardboard Cutter
Homemade cardboard connectors
See ideas for cardboard connectors this link: Connectors
Easy art designs with pens
Think Zentangle
1) start with a medium-sized square or rectangle, 2) with a felt tip pen or sharpie draw 6 free flowing lines inside your shape to make small, overlapping spaces, 3) these new spaces will be your mini canvases for individual patterns, 4) with the pen or sharpie, add in different patterns for each small space, 5) add shading with a pecil or dark black details with a marker
For ideas and how to start, see Zentangle Doodle For Beginners YouTube 3:18 About Zentangles, Zentangles for Kids -
Meditative Art for Kids and search for Zentangle patterns images online for more designs
Sharpies or other fine point permanent markers
Graph paper or "blueprint" paper
Special supplies to be on the lookout for
If these supplies do not belong to you, ask for permission!
Old flat magnets
Craft sticks
Pipe cleaners
Crepe paper streamers
Hot glue gun
Legos, any other building blocks
K’Nex
Make your own "ruler"
Make a non-standard ruler.
The width of wo fingers side by side is about 1 inch. The width of one pinky is about 1 centimeter. Use a piece of cardboard to measure and mark these units.
This will work as a straight edge for cutting precisely and as a measuring tool.
Make your own cutting mat with any thick cardboard square or rectangle and contact paper or adhesive foil!
Working wtih Cardboard Ideas, Tips and Tricks
Use these ideas to connect pieces in your projects!
Image Citation: Mrs. Kimby Lababit Cardboard Sculpture
How To Video with some attachments
Cardboard Construction YouTube 6:09
Refine your projects!
Image Citation: Mrs. Kimby Lababit Cardboard Sculpture
Be on the lookout for different kinds of cardboard.
Image Citation: Exploratorium BAME Meet Up Cardboard Night