Collaborative Art Space: Arts and Crafts in our Makerspace
My students need whiteboard paint and dry erase markers to create a collaborative art space. Supplies for weaving, Perler bead art, duct tape crafts and origami.
Ask any young child if they consider themselves an artist, and many will answer yes. Unfortunately, as they reach middle school, they're less and less likely to give that answer. We're hoping to bring the arts back into our school by providing students opportunities to create art in our library.
We are a Title 1 magnet middle school with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
We are located in the inner city; many of our students come from low-income housing. 70% of our students are on free or reduced lunch. Our students come from all over the county, and represent all races, colors and ethnicities. For many of our students, their only exposure to the arts comes from our library programs. Our students love opportunitites to express themselves creatively, but there are fewer and fewer chances to do that. Giving our students a space and the supplies to make and create will transform them from consumers of things into makers of things and will foster their sense of creativity. By providing our students with these materials we can prepare them to be the artists, engineers, inventors and scientists of the 21st Century.
My Project
Last year, we started a Makerspace in our library thanks to projects funded through DonorsChoose. This is a space in our library dedicated to creativity and exploration, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). This year, we've created clubs in each grade level that spend one Monday a month creating and designing things in our library.
We want to expand the Arts part of our Makerspace by creating a collaborative art space. We will be painting one of our walls with whiteboard paint, which means that students will be able to write and draw on that wall with dry erase markers. This will allow our students to draw, write poetry, even practice equations.
We are also getting new consumable supplies for our craft activities. In our STEAM club, students get to create pixel art with Perler beads, learn to weave and crochet, make duct tape wallets and fold origami. Restocking these supplies will allow us to continue to make this program available.
Expsosing our students to opportunities to express themselves creatively and artistically will engage them in exploring, discovering and learning and will help them to improve in all subject areas.
Getting to make and create will transform our students from consumers of things to makers of things. By providing spaces and supplies for our students to create, we can prepare them to be the artists, inventors and change-makers of the 21st Century.
Safco Flat File - 46" x 4" x 29 7/8", Light Gray, Base, Closed Medium
• Blick Art Materials
$191.24
1
$191.24
18 Roll Variety Pack of Bazic Print and Solid Colors (brights and regular colors) of All Purpose Duct Tape. Brights Include: green, blue, orange, purple,pink and yellow. Regular colors include: brown, white, black, green, red, and blue. The prints include: various animal prints. All solid color rolls are 1.89"x 10 yards. All print rolls are 1.89"x 5 yards.
• Amazon
$52.50
1
$52.50
BIC Great Erase Grip Low Odor Dry Erase Marker, Fine Point, Assorted Colors - 30 Dry Erase Markers
• Amazon
$22.99
1
$22.99
Perler Bead Craft - Multi-Mix Bead Jar, Pkg of 22,000
• Blick Art Materials
$19.83
1
$19.83
Perler Bead Craft - Large Pegboard Assortment, Basic Shapes, Set of 18
• Blick Art Materials
$15.86
1
$15.86
Yasutomo Student Origami Paper - 6" x 6" Sheets, Class Pack Assortment, Package of 500
• Blick Art Materials
$14.88
1
$14.88
Plastic Pot Holder Loom - 7" x 7"
• Blick Art Materials
$2.03
5
$10.15
Nylon Loops - 16 oz, Neon
• Blick Art Materials
$5.69
1
$5.69
Craft it with Perler Beads: Easy And Fun Patterns For Gifts And Accessories From Fuse Beads
• Amazon
$10.51
1
$10.51
Expo Bullet Tip Dry Erase Marker Set - Assorted, Pack of 18
• Blick Art Materials
$10.09
1
$10.09
Nylon Loops - 16 oz, Assorted
• Blick Art Materials
$4.55
2
$9.10
Origami Paper - Chiyogami, Pkg of 48
• Blick Art Materials
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Rendina and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
