Building a Makerspace
An Interview with 2nd Grade Teacher Elizabeth
Tell us about the new Makerspace! What was your inspiration?
It is a space where the students can go to create things. What they are creating is up to them and their teachers. It might be a time for them to just tinker with materials and come up with something on their own, or it might be a design thinking problem. They may be asked to create something that solves a problem at school, home, or in society at large. Different teachers are doing different things and integrating it into their curriculum in different ways.
I have been advocating for a Makerspace in our school. I think all of us have wanted to include this for our students, but it has definitely been a passion for me to get it up and running. Many schools, or rather most, have some type of space on their campus for this purpose.
How are art and music working with the new space? What changes will we see this year?
This year Art and the Makerspace will share Room 8. Music will be in the classrooms this year. We now contract with Rhythm and Moves, who also provide our PE curriculum.
When I think Makerspace I imagine power tools and hammers and hot glue guns and all sorts of cool stuff… Can you explain what our kids will have access to this year and what you hope to introduce?
Well, the goal is for them to have access to all sorts of things. The room is a work in progress. I think eventually we will order some new tech tables and stools along with some storage so the students can access the materials they need to build and create. The idea is that they will learn to use these tools and they will be accessible to them during their time in the Makerspace. This will obviously depend on their grade level.
Anything else to add?
Makerspaces are popping up all over — not only in schools, but in community centers, libraries, and other places in our communities. They promote creativity and problem solving and provide access to materials to people who otherwise might not have access to these things.