Creating Engaging Middle School Maker Days in Your Library Makerspace
Finding ways to get our middle schoolers into our library makerspace can sometimes be challenging – especially in a pandemic. Last year, we expanded our existing makerspace programming into afterschool Maker Days twice a week and it’s been a huge success. This year we’re continuing to grow by incorporating maker activities into the 6th grade science curriculum. Learn how we created design challenges and found fun activities that engaged our students in design and creativity.
Presented at Florida Council of Independent Schools Virtual Conference, November 5, 2021
Resources
Challenge Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace
My book that I co-wrote along with Colleen and Aaron Graves. Much of this presentation is based off of the content of this book, so if you find this presentation valuable, you’ll probably like the book too.
In this book, we go into depth about how to create a maker culture within your school, develop an interactive learning space and more. We discuss the logistics of hosting maker workshops, creating design challenge prompts and documenting the learning process.
Our IDEAlab and Makerspace:
- Starting a Makerspace from Scratch: Introducing the IDEAlab and Makerspace
- COVID Library Update: Our Makerspace in the Time of COVID
- How to Manage Your Makerspace During a Pandemic (Demco)
Maker Days themes
- Cardboard Challenge Tips Part 1: The Tools
- Cardboard Challenge Tips Part 2: More Tips and Tricks
- How to Teach an Intro to 3D Printing Class
- How to Teach a Paper Circuit Workshop
Best Practices for Makerspaces
- How to Choose Books to Support Your Makerspace
- Open Exploration in a Makerspace: What it is and Why We Need it
- Open Exploration in a Makerspace: Best Practices
Design Challenges at Stewart Middle Magnet School (my previous school):
- A Student Designed Maker Cart (School Library Journal)
- How to Run a Rubber Band Launcher Challenge
- Stewart Cardboard Challenge
- The Stewart-Lamar Catapult Challenge
- The 2015 Cardboard Challenges
- K’nex Club and Digital Learning Day
- K’nex Club: Making Models of Real Places