Maker in My Library

My Library – Already in Place

  • Robotic equipment, including Bee Bots and Lego Spike Prime
  • 3D Printer and 3Doodler pens
  • Computers
  • Some iPads (about 8 per class)
  • Craft books for inspiration, such as sewing, origami, and more
  • Basic supplies like paper, pencils, markers, scissors, and glue
  • Coding - Scratch (Jr.)


My Library – Possibilities for my School Community
  • Clear out the library storage room (some items will be removed in the near future)
  • Robots such as Sphero have more versatility than Bee Bots but are easier to use than Spike Prime
  • Green screen
  • Lego, blocks, other odds and ends
  • Supplies like beads, yarn, fabric, and other sewing supplies
  • Picture and nonfiction books that can inspire makers (eg. Iggy Peck, Architect) and support literacy
  • Items based on student wishes - grades 4/5 are doing an entrepreneurship class
Some of the projects my students and I have completed fall into the maker's space category. As an elective, I taught Lego Robotics, I taught many coding lessons, and we have done centres where students learn a skill of their choices like origami, magic tricks, and more. In the future, I'm hoping to do library and take classes during teacher's preps. That would allow me to create a dedicated curriculum where we could spend time making. 

Question: If my lessons must continue to be completed within a 25-minute window, what format can I use to provide a meaningful makers space?

Comments

  1. Mrs Véro - Mme VéroApril 25, 2023 at 5:32 PM

    Hi Sara,
    Because your period's time is quite limited, you might want to think about a system of bins, cabinets or drawers that are easy to carry and store. I imagine a container where you have all your materials prepared, and you just bring them out for the next class. There should also be displays for students who haven't finished a project to put them on hold with the materials they want to save for the next time. Perhaps teachers would also be willing to let you have a small corner of their classroom to keep projects if the library or maker space doesn't allow it. Empowering students by giving them clear instructions on how to put things away would help. You could even have supervisors (2-3 students per class) responsible for going around the makerspace when the period is over to make sure everything is neat and clean. My students love this responsibility. They feel so proud to be able to help.
    Thanks for sharing,
    -Véro

    ReplyDelete
  2. KappaBattaApril 25, 2023 at 9:17 PM

    Matthew here (aka "KappaBatta)
    Sara - I read your question and was going to suggest something similar to Vero's idea: If not bins, then shelves and bucket systems with picture or photo-coded labels. This will ensure quick access and clean up. Also perhaps a letter according to instructions. E.g. "Step one: Pick four blocks from "A" bucket and six pieces of string from "B" bucket".
    Also, if time is an issue, pairing people or making groups of four should make achieving outcomes quicker and ensure collaboration.
    I'm so glad hear that you want to use the opportunity to take classes during teachers' preps. If that happens, the kids will L-O-V-E visiting the library.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ms. B HerselfApril 26, 2023 at 9:27 AM

    Nicole B-R: within the time you have maybe hosting makerspace challenges that can be done from home could be interesting. Start in the last minutes of the library class then taken home as an optional challenge. Or maybe attempting to do a monthly(bimonthly) makerspace challenge where book exchange is done at another time and the library times are used for this challenge? Just some ideas obviously would depend on the school.

    ReplyDelete
  4. J KimApril 26, 2023 at 2:34 PM

    Hi, this is Julia. What do you think about including microbits in your collection? they're really versatile and can do a lot of various things with microsoft block coding

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara CMay 3, 2023 at 5:36 PM

      Hi Julia, I actually have Microbits but I always forget because I have never used them. There's one teacher who uses them every year. I have heard there is a robot coming out called Finch which is programmed with Microbits.

      Delete

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