Titan Hill's MakerSpace
Unlocking the Potential of MakerSpaces for our students
What is a MakerSpace?
MakerSpaces are difficult to define. Essentially they are a "space" where students are allowed to explore, collaborate and learn by "making" or creating. The power of MakerSpaces is that it is student-driven: students experiment and explore what is of interest to them. MakerSpaces can take many forms and be as high-tech or low-tech as the materials available within them.
What is a MakerSpace?
Why a MakerSpace?
Students learn by doing. By allowing students to explore and create in a MakerSpace, we are reinforcing inquiry, critical thinking and problem-solving, creativity, collaboration and communications.
MakerSpace Ideas
The MakerSpace can be in a variety of ways, both for free exploration or in direct support of the curriculum!
Here are just a few ideas that have been implemented or brainstormed:
Implemented Ideas:
- Ghost Traps-- Students used MakerSpace materials to create a trap for ghosts. Students then wrote about their traps (how the inventions worked, created a story, reflected on the process, etc.)
- Area vs. Perimeter-- Students created models to demonstrate the difference between area and perimeter. Students then presented their creations to their classmates in a mini-MakerFaire
Brainstormed Ideas:
- Force and Motion-- Students can use materials from the MakerSpace to create models that demonstrate force and motion.
- Circuits-- Students can use materials from the MakerSpace to experiment with circuitry, to discover how circuits work and to practice create working circuits.
Students using Legos to create a visual model of area and perimeter.
Students using cardboard and duct tape to create a Ghost Trap.
Students using Strawbees to create models of area and perimeter.
Our MakerSpace Materials List
The attached Google Doc has a list of the materials currently available through the Titan Hill MakerSpace.
Additonal MakerSpace Readings & Resources
MakerSpace Symbaloo by Shannon Miller
Lynn Kleinmeyer
Lynn Kleinmeyer is the Teacher Librarian at Titan Hill Intermediate, a 2nd-5th grade building in Council Bluff's Lewis Central School District. Prior to becoming the Teacher Librarian, Lynn taught 7th grade Reading for 13 years in Plattsmouth, NE.
Email: lynn.kleinmeyer@lewiscentral.org
Website: bit.ly/THLibrary
Twitter: @THLibrariZen