 |
| 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!
