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Why have a Makerspace? (2020)
Why have a Makerspace? (2020)
"To foster inspiration, collaboration, learning, teaching and creation. In our Makerspace we will build, make, persevere and be creative. We will investigate specific problems, develop plans for solving them, execute our plans and evaluate their success." -Principal, Katie Ramos
"To foster inspiration, collaboration, learning, teaching and creation. In our Makerspace we will build, make, persevere and be creative. We will investigate specific problems, develop plans for solving them, execute our plans and evaluate their success." -Principal, Katie Ramos
Makerspace stations and activities align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); the 21st Century Learning & Innovation Skills which include the 4Cs: Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity; and the Common Core State Standards in the areas of literacy and math.
Makerspace stations and activities align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); the 21st Century Learning & Innovation Skills which include the 4Cs: Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity; and the Common Core State Standards in the areas of literacy and math.
To see a Slide Show Orientation to our Makerspace click link below:
To see a Slide Show Orientation to our Makerspace click link below:
The Making Stations available in our Makerspace are listed below:
The Making Stations available in our Makerspace are listed below:
Book Nook
Book Nook
Students can research a variety of picture books, project books, and relevant magazines of topical interest. They can learn about other makers, as well as find inspiration for their own ideas that guide and inform their makerspace experiences.
Students can research a variety of picture books, project books, and relevant magazines of topical interest. They can learn about other makers, as well as find inspiration for their own ideas that guide and inform their makerspace experiences.
Legos
Legos
Students can intereact with basic building blocks in horizontal and vertical planes. They will explore child-initiated designs and manipulatives for introductory engineering challenges.
Students can intereact with basic building blocks in horizontal and vertical planes. They will explore child-initiated designs and manipulatives for introductory engineering challenges.
Think Fun Games
Think Fun Games
Students can enjoy ThinkFun games and puzzles which were designed to introduce, teach, and encourage 21st century thinking skills. They will focus on visual-spatial and logic skills.
Students can enjoy ThinkFun games and puzzles which were designed to introduce, teach, and encourage 21st century thinking skills. They will focus on visual-spatial and logic skills.
Tinker Tubs
Tinker Tubs
Students can manipulate various materials in this area that focuses on fine motor coordination. A few examples include keva planks, qu-bits, k'nex, qu-ba-maze, gears, and wedgits.
Students can manipulate various materials in this area that focuses on fine motor coordination. A few examples include keva planks, qu-bits, k'nex, qu-ba-maze, gears, and wedgits.
Recycle Center
Recycle Center
Students can use cardboard of various shapes and sizes, as well as recycled plastic to produce creative works. They can specifically experiment with prototypes for the design process. This station also includes make-do tools to assist the creative building process.
Students can use cardboard of various shapes and sizes, as well as recycled plastic to produce creative works. They can specifically experiment with prototypes for the design process. This station also includes make-do tools to assist the creative building process.
Work Shop
Work Shop
Students can work with real tools in this new addition to the makerspace. They will use hammers, screwdrivers, and drills. In addition to learning critical safety rules and proper tool usage, students will enjoy learning about and performing basic woodworking. A variety of interactive panels are also a part of this station and include manipulating materials such as PVC pipes, plastic tubing, rubberbands, and golf tees.
Students can work with real tools in this new addition to the makerspace. They will use hammers, screwdrivers, and drills. In addition to learning critical safety rules and proper tool usage, students will enjoy learning about and performing basic woodworking. A variety of interactive panels are also a part of this station and include manipulating materials such as PVC pipes, plastic tubing, rubberbands, and golf tees.
Creation Station
Creation Station
Students can be creative! They will use consumable goods and objects in order to express themselves and produce tangible work that portrays their creativity. They will also be able to constuct prototypes for their ongoing design challenges using the wide variety of materials at their disposal.
Students can be creative! They will use consumable goods and objects in order to express themselves and produce tangible work that portrays their creativity. They will also be able to constuct prototypes for their ongoing design challenges using the wide variety of materials at their disposal.
Coding & Robotics
Coding & Robotics
Students can investigate activities that encourage early logic and coding skills through games as well as through the use of Ozobots. They will be excited to see their basic coding skills in action with these "mini robots" at their disposal.
Students can investigate activities that encourage early logic and coding skills through games as well as through the use of Ozobots. They will be excited to see their basic coding skills in action with these "mini robots" at their disposal.
Electronics and Circuitry
Electronics and Circuitry
Students can explore the basic tenets of eletricity and circuitry. They will be able to learn about how electricity works and how we can harness its power for our practical use. We use electricity every day, and students will begin to understand the basic workings of electrical circuits. This center includes: Little Bits, Squishy Circuits, Snap Circuits, Makey Makey, and materials to make paper circuits.
Students can explore the basic tenets of eletricity and circuitry. They will be able to learn about how electricity works and how we can harness its power for our practical use. We use electricity every day, and students will begin to understand the basic workings of electrical circuits. This center includes: Little Bits, Squishy Circuits, Snap Circuits, Makey Makey, and materials to make paper circuits.
STEM Challenge Cart
STEM Challenge Cart
Students can explore hands-on engineering opportunities at this station. They receive a task card that guides their efforts. They are challenged to complete each task using the materials available in the bins supplied for them. These activities focus on engineering tasks, so students with be accessing a variety of their skills and tools to solve problems that have specific constraints. Ultimately, they apply their structures that they produce to real world designs that they can recognize.
Students can explore hands-on engineering opportunities at this station. They receive a task card that guides their efforts. They are challenged to complete each task using the materials available in the bins supplied for them. These activities focus on engineering tasks, so students with be accessing a variety of their skills and tools to solve problems that have specific constraints. Ultimately, they apply their structures that they produce to real world designs that they can recognize.
Green Screen Studio
Green Screen Studio
Students can experience how a green screen works, and gain appreciation for its many applications. They can shoot videos, work on projects for class, and continue their exposure to another common technological application used around them every day. Students' imaginations will have an ever changing background for their endeavors. In addition, our media club uses this for morning announcents, and we can use the Do-Ink App for various green screen projects.
Students can experience how a green screen works, and gain appreciation for its many applications. They can shoot videos, work on projects for class, and continue their exposure to another common technological application used around them every day. Students' imaginations will have an ever changing background for their endeavors. In addition, our media club uses this for morning announcents, and we can use the Do-Ink App for various green screen projects.
To Be Determined by the Westlawn Community...
To Be Determined by the Westlawn Community...
Students can benefit from your input! Each Makerspace is unique, and we intend for ours to reflect the goals, needs, and desires of our community. Please let us know if you have any ideas for any new activities or stations that we can explore together to add to our Makerspace. Be Makers! Immerse yourselves in the process!
Students can benefit from your input! Each Makerspace is unique, and we intend for ours to reflect the goals, needs, and desires of our community. Please let us know if you have any ideas for any new activities or stations that we can explore together to add to our Makerspace. Be Makers! Immerse yourselves in the process!
Many people have helped us supply our makerspace with materials and supplies such as students, parents, the PTO, the CEF, and local community businesses.
Many people have helped us supply our makerspace with materials and supplies such as students, parents, the PTO, the CEF, and local community businesses.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Without their support we would not be able to provide this wonderful opportunity for our students.
Without their support we would not be able to provide this wonderful opportunity for our students.
For a complete list of what is supplied at each station click HERE
For a complete list of what is supplied at each station click HERE
In addition to these Making Stations, students will be participating in STEAM engineering challenges. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. STEAM activities are "all about inspiring our next generation of inventors, innovators, and leaders to question like a scientist, design like a technologist, build like an engineer, create like an artist, and deduce like a mathematician and PLAY like a kid."
In addition to these Making Stations, students will be participating in STEAM engineering challenges. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. STEAM activities are "all about inspiring our next generation of inventors, innovators, and leaders to question like a scientist, design like a technologist, build like an engineer, create like an artist, and deduce like a mathematician and PLAY like a kid."
Six Reasons STEAM and Making Are Important:
Six Reasons STEAM and Making Are Important:
1. Everyone can be good at something.
1. Everyone can be good at something.
2. They promote high levels of student engagement.
2. They promote high levels of student engagement.
3. Learning opportunities are concrete, hands-on, and multisensory, meeting the needs of ALL learners.
3. Learning opportunities are concrete, hands-on, and multisensory, meeting the needs of ALL learners.
4. Processes focus on the learning by doing, not merely the end product.
4. Processes focus on the learning by doing, not merely the end product.
5. Open-ended tasks lead to higher-level questions.
5. Open-ended tasks lead to higher-level questions.
6. Students (and teachers) learn that failure can be O.K.
6. Students (and teachers) learn that failure can be O.K.
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