Jenna Hoeffert

3rd Grade

Meet the Maker: Jenna Hoeffert

My name is Jenna Hoeffert and I am a 3rd grade that teachers all academic subject areas at Elmwood Elementary School. Maker culture is important because it instills empathy in students towards real world problems.

Provocation: How might we make a positive impact on wild or domesticated animals who are negatively affected by humans?

Maker Plan: 3rd Grade Reading about animals to identify issues, generate empathy and create solutions.

Animals have a difficult time coexisting with humans, and often mistreated. This idea connects to the Reader’s Workshop curriculum, specifically Unit 3 (nonfiction) and Unit 5 (animal nonfiction). Animals are being mistreated, hurt, killed, and endangered. Students want to help save animal lives or improve their living conditions.

What we are making, Why we are Making, Who we are Making for:

We are designing a product to make animal's life better.

We are making to improve animal's quality of life.

We are making for the animals!

Maker Skill Builders & Highlights

Building to Think

Provided only pipe cleaners, students were asked to create a vision of character trait

Developing innovative thinking

Disruptus asks students to look at objects and ideas and use different approaches

More Info

Engineering for civic spaces.

Using the Launch Cycle, students created a solution to help farmers disperse seeds.

Full Video of Prototype Explanation

Authentic Audience

Students designed and engineered a tangible prototype to fix cubbie storage for students.

Full Video of Skill Builder

Student Product Samples

Researching their animals as a group

Students brainstorm problems and solutions using the student template

Students create, reflect, revise and retest their prototype

Example of a final product of a prototype

Additional Teacher Resources & Reproducibles:

Must know tips for Teachers:

-Starting with skill builders is a great way to start Making

-Start by getting familiar with maker process & launch cycle. Worry less about the product and more about the the process/educational experience for the students.

-For pacing purposes, remember to implement the plan and discuss animal empathy throughout/prior the unit. In addition, designate a week for the prototyping stages.