Mini Makerspace for the Library

My Students

"Creativity is intelligence having fun." --Albert Einstein. In today's world, it is often difficult to foster creativity in students due to educational restraints, demands, and funding. Makerspaces provide a space where students can explore their creativity, think critically and collaborate.

Our PreK-6th grade students come from a variety of different racial and ethnic groups, there is one common thread that seems to run through the majority of the student population.

More than 70% of students at our school qualify for free and reduced price lunch putting them at or below the poverty line. Children in poverty often have limited access to STEM related materials as well as arts and crafts supplies that help to foster strong 21st Century skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. In the library we have the unique opportunity to see every student at least once a week. We are already working to provide technological opportunities for our students that they may not have at home and we hope to expand on that with this mini makerspace by opening up the doors to even more possibilities to tinker and create through hands on learning.

My Project

While in the Makerspace students will be fostering their creativity to create, design and explore. Students will learn problem solving, collaboration and engineering skills through the use of various building materials include LEGOs, K'nex, Magformers and Goldiblocks kits. They will use STEM inspired games like Gravity Maze and Suspend to have fun while also expanding their critical thinking skills. Snap Circuit kits will provide students with the opportunity to create circuit boards and understand how these boards work household items like TVs and radios. Origami books & supplies along with beads, washi tape, stickers, stamps, funky scissors and craft paper will give students the opportunity to explore their creativity through creation.

They will learn about basic engineering and design concepts that will foster creativity and create a spark for learning.

The library is the core of the school. It is a place that students can come to read, research, collaborate, and build on ideas. A Makerspace will allow students to do all these things while building on their 21st Century learning skills.