Monday, November 16, 2015

Wooldridge Library Makerspace: Update Fall 2015

Our new Lego "tree"

Making Continues in the Wooldridge Library

Over the past year, Wooldridge Quails, have continued making, exploring, creating , and learning from their experiences in the library makerspace. During the summer, our library program set up shop in a portable building (the inside of our school was having ac renovations). So, we hauled ALL of the makerpsace materials and four carts of library books out to the portable! Students had three weeks to work on projects, tinker, and READ in the space. There was a great turn out--close to 80 students moved through and worked in the space each day.
Have makerspace--will travel!
Patrick Benfield  stops by to do a Little Bits demo!

Summer 2015

School Wide Makerspace Night

In October, I helped 5th grade teachers host a makerspace night for our Wooldridge students and their families. It was a huge success! Students were teaching their parents what they had learned over the summer and the year before. Everyone was engaged and there was a great buzz in the air! I'm looking forward to hosting another maker night in the future!

Legos!
Take apart station


Paper crafts
Little Bits


Makey Makey
Bee-bots

Literacy Inspired Making

Makerspace weeks have continued in the library, as well as, literacy inspired challenges. Fourth and fifth graders read the story Iggy Peck, Architect, and constructed bridges or towers out of spaghetti and clay. They had great fun with this project and showed problem solving skills when things didn't go quite as planned. I really enjoyed watching students go back to the drawing board when they needed to make adjustments.

I also collaborated with our wonderful art teacher, Deborah Parkansky, on an Eric Carle reading and art piece. After reading many Carle book, first grade students began working on a painting that would later be deconstructed and used in the makerspace to create a colorful mosaic of a sea horse--inspired from Eric Carle's Mister Sea Horse.



Bridges by 5th graders
Some students planned out their bridges and towers with drawings first.

Students worked together. 


Austin Mini Makerfaire 2015

Four Wooldridge students were able to join me at our makerspace booth in the education tent area of the Austin Mini Makerfaire. They demonstrated how to make stop animation movies with HUE cameras and with the iPad ap--Lego Movie Maker. My goal this year, is to take a bus load of students to the Makerfaire to experience and participate in all the amazing activities.

Makerspace Weeks in the Library

One week out of the month is set aside for makerspace time in the library. Students are able to choose from a growing list of stations. Some of the staples are: Legos, paper crafts, building with recycled materials, Makeymakey, take apart station, and Minecraft. Newer stations that have been added this year include: Bee-bots, Little Bits, Lego We-do, and practicing coding with code.org. I am always open to new and exciting things to add to our makerspace. I also let the students help guide me in the development of our space. 



These guys were measuring and estimating how long it would take Bee-bot to get around their track. Math in the library!


Continuing Maker Education

To continue my maker education, I have been participating in a program through the Thinkery called Ed Exchange. Twenty educators, from all across Austin, come together twice a month to learn more about making in education. We have had amazing speakers and tons of hands-on time with the latest and greatest ed tech gadgets. It has also been a place to share what has worked in our own makerspaces and gather new ideas. The things I have learned over this semester have been so valuable and inspiring! The topics covered include: Digital Fabrication, Tinkering and Making, Design Thinking, Coding, and Best Practices for STEAM Education. For more information about the Thinkery or the Ed Exchange program, click on the link below. 
http://thinkeryaustin.org/programs-events/edexchange/

One of the ideas that came from this group was creating Puff Mobiles--students get 3 straws, 2 paperclips, 1 piece of paper, 4 lifesaver mints, and tape. The object is to create a vehicle that moves with your breath. My 3rd graders rocked this challenge! Their fearlessness allowed them to create unique vehicles that really moved!

To be continued! I look forward to using what I've learned over the last year with my wonderful Woodridge Quails! Yay, library makerspaces!




Monday, January 5, 2015

Making During the School Year

Making Time for Making in the Library

Now that we are half way through the school year, we are finally starting to get into a groove with our makerspace. Fitting in maker time, along with providing book check out and other activities, was proving to be a challenge. What I really needed was a schedule, so that all students could benefit from our space, and continue to have access to library resources. I've decided that one week a month will be a maker week. Second through fifth grade will have time at different maker stations each month. If students are unable to finish a project, or want to add something to an existing project, they can take their creation with them, or come after school to complete it. Students have fun building, creating, exploring, planning, and seeing their ideas come to life.
Wooldridge Library Mini-Makerspace--Before and After

Reviewing the Rules of the Makerspace

Our makerspace has only three rules:


1. Be creative
2. Be safe
3. Clean up after yourself

Students seems to be on board with these three simple rules. I assure them that makerspaces can messy, but it is their responsibility to clean up after using the space. After everyone agrees to these rules, they are free to choose a station. 


Students play Minecraft on the library computers.

Students use recycled materials to make creations. There can never be enough hot glue and tape!

Weaving with yarn and ribbons. 

Using tools to take apart and explore the inside of a computer. 


More recycled materials building.


A unique dog created out of recycled materials.

Students use a small camera to create stop animation movies.