Science + Makerspace: Earthquake Structure Design Challenge

Learn about how we created an Earthquake Structure Design challenge to bring our makerspace into our 6th grade science curriculum.

In the spring of 2021, the 6th grade science teacher and I began forming a plan.  She had seen the engagement of 6th graders in our afterschool Maker Days program and wanted to find a way to bring that into her classroom so that ALL of our 6th graders could have this opportunity.  We applied … Read more

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools: You can't make appropriate changes at your school without all the data, and using surveys with your teachers and students is a great way to gather it. It also gives an opportunity for your stakeholders to have a voice in your school

You can’t design a library space and program that meets the needs of your teachers and students if you don’t know what those needs are.  It’s hard to develop an effective library collection if you have no idea what genres and books your students want to read. Using surveys with your teachers and students can … Read more

Too Much Information: 3 Frustrating Problems With Signage

Good signage is vital in a learning space.  Ideally, your students should be able to walk into your space, look around, and find the things that they need without having to ask for help.  Realistically, I know that this isn’t usually what happens, but it’s the goal to aim for. In general, I would say … Read more

Read this Book: The Design of Childhood

Read this Book: The Design of Childhood - If the history of how design intersects with the lives of children fascinates you, this book is for you.

Read This Book: The Design of Childhood I first heard about The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids in a NPR interview with the author.  It immediately piqued my interest.  Design, education and learning spaces are some of my favorite subjects. Bringing them all together in one book sounds amazing.  And … Read more

How to Build Creativity (and More ) Through Making

How to Build Creativity (and more) Through Making // The Four C's are a popular trend in education right now. They may be a trend, but they're also valuable skills that students can learn through making - and it doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.

The Four C’s are big in education right now: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication.  We talk constantly about how we need to be teaching our students these skills.   I’m not always a big fan of buzzwords – even though I’ve only been in education for less than a decade, I realize that they come … Read more

Why Our Learning Spaces Matter

Why Our Learning Spaces Matter : We need to stop worry about money, convenience and tradition. The spaces in which our students learn matter, and we need to make them better.

Educational environments have been stuck for far too long.  For decades, we have settled for beige concrete boxes. Little natural sunlight and fresh air.  Desks arranged in rows because it makes for the most efficient cleaning, rather than asking what makes for the most productive learning environment.  Our libraries are boxes with walls lined with … Read more

Being a Maker: Just Create Something Everyday

Being a Maker: Just Create Everyday: If you want to expand your creativity, create something everyday. Even if it sucks. Just keep building the habit. Now go make opportunities for your students to do this.

(Post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase using them, I get a small commission that helps support running this blog) Just create something.  Everyday. I love to read books about creativity and the artist’s process.  It’s fascinating to learn the stories of authors, artists and other creatives and learn about their how they create … Read more

Read this Book: Izzy Gizmo + Giveaway

Read this Book: Izzy Gizmo - This delightful new picture book definitely has a place in makerspaces. It portrays a young girl of color who loves science, experiences setbacks and develops empathy for others.

While I’ve never worked in an elementary school before, I’m always on the lookout for awesome maker picture books.  Picture books are a great way to introduce a lesson or activity in makerspaces.  We even have a whole chart on maker picture book connections in Challenge Based Learning (check out the resources page to see … Read more

Read this Book: The Space: A Guide for Educators

Read this Book: The Space: A Guide for Educators | The Space is an amazing resource on learning space design. It helps educators to learn to think as designers, to co-design their spaces with their students and to create learning spaces that are inclusive of ALL their students.

When educators and designers get together to write a book on learning spaces, amazing things happen.  Many books on learning space design focus on lots of gorgeous photos of expensively renovated school environments, language to use with architects or projects that are amazing, but not always easy to replicate.  The Space takes a different approach. … Read more

The Creature Challenge: Make a Creature that Does Something

The Creature Challenge: Make a Creature That Does Something: Student created design challenges can be powerful motivators for students. In this student challenge, the Stewart Makers Club used different materials to build creatures that did something.

Design challenges are powerful ways to engage students in making (that’s why I co-wrote a book about them).  Sometimes, I craft the design challenges myself.  But other times, I go to my students and ask them to create their own design challenges.  This one was one of those, and I think it was brilliant: The … Read more