My first introduction to the idea of a Makerspace was in my Instructional Methods in Gifted Education course. I consider myself a creative teacher, so I became instantly interested in the idea. However, as I researched, I found most Makerspaces used STEM ideas that didn't quite fit my high school English Language Arts classroom. I also realized that many of the supplies exceeded my classroom budget of "whatever I can get for free or from DollarTree'. So I had to take some time to figure out how a Makerspace would look in my class.
At the end of the first semester, I also receive my classroom set of Google Chromebooks and, realizing that my students needed intentional time off screen, I decided that a Markerspace would be a great option. I started gathering left over craft supplies from other projects, cheap supplies from the dollar store and recycled materials like cardboard and paper towel rolls, to create a low tech, low cost Makerspace.
Here are my supplies:
Aluminum foil
Pipe Cleaners
Foam pieces
Pom-poms
Cotton Balls
Craft sticks
Wooden cutouts
Clothes Pins
Stencils
Paper plates
Foam Cups
Foam Bowls
Plastic Spoons
Straws
Toilet Paper Rolls
Paper Towel Rolls
Cardboard scraps
Duct Tape
Masking Tape
Plastic Wrap
Rubber Bands
Cotton Swabs
Tooth picks
I also have regular school supplies like scissors, colored pencils, markers, construction paper, tape and glue available in the area.
The second challenge was to assign meaningful activities that combined content with creativity. My students completed their first Makerspace assignment this week: To create a 3-D creation representing of either a vocabulary word or theme from our collection texts. To help build creative thinking and collaboration skills, they were required to work in small groups.
After they made their 3-D creation, the students had to respond in Google classroom, explaining how their creation represented the word or theme.
The feedback from the students is that they enjoyed doing the hands on work and that they feel they have a better understanding of the word or theme.
They also requested additional supplies, like a hot-glue gun, to be added to the space.
For me, it's always a win when students get to create and collaborate through learning choices.
Here are my supplies:
Aluminum foilPipe Cleaners
Foam pieces
Pom-poms
Cotton Balls
Craft sticks
Wooden cutouts
Clothes Pins
Stencils
Paper plates
Foam Cups
Foam Bowls
Plastic Spoons
Straws
Toilet Paper Rolls
Paper Towel Rolls
Cardboard scraps
Duct Tape
Masking Tape
Plastic Wrap
Rubber Bands
Cotton Swabs
Tooth picks
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The second challenge was to assign meaningful activities that combined content with creativity. My students completed their first Makerspace assignment this week: To create a 3-D creation representing of either a vocabulary word or theme from our collection texts. To help build creative thinking and collaboration skills, they were required to work in small groups.
After they made their 3-D creation, the students had to respond in Google classroom, explaining how their creation represented the word or theme.
The feedback from the students is that they enjoyed doing the hands on work and that they feel they have a better understanding of the word or theme.
They also requested additional supplies, like a hot-glue gun, to be added to the space.
For me, it's always a win when students get to create and collaborate through learning choices.
This is awesome! Love the idea of Makerspaces in a classroom.
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