# data[].attributes.headline
Build a MakerSpace Workbench for under $100

# data[].attributes.subject
Build a MakerSpace Workbench for under $100

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Get the complete step-by-step workbench plans in PDF format

Makerspace Workbench

We're always creating something at our Makerspaces.com office and just recently we ran out of work space. Instead of just going out and buying a workbench, we decided to build one and share the plans so you can build one too.

Making your own workbench offers a few advantages over buying one from the store. First, you will be able to customize the bench to your specific needs, requirements and space constraints. You can make it as long, high, wide, flashy or simple as you want. And the best part is you will save a ton of money, learn something new and have the gratification of doing it yourself.

Ok, let's make a makerspace workbench !

Build The Base

To start, we need to construct the skeleton of the workbench which will form the base structure. In this tutorial, we will provide the exact measurements needed to replicate the workbench that we built but feel free to alter the dimensions to meet your needs.

One alteration you might want to consider is adjusting the working height with respect to who will be using it. Elementary school students would need a shorter bench vs high school or adults. Also, do you prefer to stand or sit? Our workbench was designed for sitting and has a finished working height of 31.5″ which is perfect for our work stool which is 24″ tall. The fact that we were able to customize this to our needs highlights why we love building vs buying.

Cut Sizes Needed:

All pieces below are standard 2×4 whitewood. When making alterations, note that 2×4's don't measure 2 inch by 4 inch anymore and are actually 1.5 inch x 3.5 inch.

3 pieces - 61.5″ each

4 pieces - 69″ each

4 pieces - 28.5″ each

4 pieces - 25.5″ each

4 pieces - 15″ each

2 pieces - 31″ each

You should be able to get these cuts out of (11) 2×4's for a total of $34.
Build the top frame and bottom shelf as outlined and connect the 2×4 pieces using 3 inch #10 construction screws.

Next, attach the legs (31″ front and 61.5″ back) to the top frame with 3 inch #10 construction screws.

Last step for the base is attaching the bottom shelf. Screw the shelf to the legs about 5″ up from the bottom.

Make sure to use a level and a carpenter's square so everything is square and level. The goal is to place a marble on the finished bench without it rolling.

Add The Plywood

Now that the 2×4's are connected, it's time to add the plywood to the top frame and bottom shelf.

You will need (1) sheet of 3/4″ sanded plywood (or similar). For the top frame, cut the plywood to 72″W x 30″D. For the bottom shelf, cut the plywood to 72″W x 18″D. Screw the plywood to the 2×4's using 2 inch #10 construction screws.
One sheet of plywood is about $32
After the horizontal pieces of plywood are secured, go ahead and attach the back panels to the frame.

You will need (1) sheet of 1/2″ or 3/4″ sanded plywood. For the top section, you will need a piece that measures 72″ W x 30″H. Screw it in place using 2″ screws.

The bottom back piece needs to measure 72″ W x 18″ H. Screw it in place using 2″ screws as well.
One sheet of plywood for the backer panels is about $32
Congrats ! You now have a fully built makerspace workbench for about $98.

Get the complete step-by-step workbench plans in PDF format

The following sections will cover optional items that you can add to your workbench as we did in our case.

Add A Shelf

One of the reasons we added a back panel to the workbench was in order to hang a shelf. The shelf is pretty straight forward and consists of a 1″x 8″x 72″ piece of plywood mounted using (3) 8″ x 8″ brackets. When it comes to placement, it's really personal preference on where to mount it. We have ours located at 10″ down from the top of the back panel.

Add Electrical Outlets

You can never have enough power ! That's why we added a 48″ metal power strip ($24 from Harbor Freight) that has 12 electrical outlets and a surge protector built in. We used a 1″ spade wood bit to open a hole for the plug to go thru. The power strip plug then went out the back of the workbench to the wall outlet.

The power strip can be located at the front rail as shown or on the back panel.

Add A Protective Finish

After you finish building your makerspace workbench, you should think about protecting it. Adding a sealant to your work surface will help protect the wood from scrapes, scratches and spills. Having a protective topcoat will also make it easier to clean the surface after a project is over.

Add Storage Bins

Keeping makerspace materials organized is one of the biggest concerns we hear about. One way to help with storage is to use these plastic bins from ULINE that hang from a wall or bench mounted rack.

These bin racks come in a few sizes and can range from 18″w x 19″ h to 36″w x 19″h. These racks hold about 24 bins which is great for storing nuts, bolts, craft supplies and countless other materials.

Add A Task Light

Another item worth adding to your workbench is some sort of task lighting. We got this adjustable light at IKEA for about $15 and it works great at directing the light where you need it.

Fully Loaded !

Get the complete step-by-step workbench plans in PDF format

We would love to see your workbenches and how your makerspace is set up. Tweet us @Makerspaces_com so we can share your photos with our maker network.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Build a Makerspace Workbench For Under $100 w/ Step-by Step-Plans

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get the complete step-by-step workbench plans in PDF format We're always creating something at our Makerspaces.com office and just recently we ran out of work space. Instead of just going out and buying a workbench, we decided to build one and share the plans so you can build one too.

# data[].attributes.headline
A vertical build - How we constructed our makerspace Lego wall

# data[].attributes.subject
A vertical build - How we constructed our makerspace Lego wall

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We built a Makerspace in our elementary school! And it has been such a transformative space for our students. I wrote a Fractus post on our journey earlier this year, and since then, the space has been buzzing with excitement.

Most days, the Makerspace is open in the morning as students arrive to school, and I simply monitor the making, creating, tinkering with the many materials and technology available during the time we have together. Teachers have been taking their classes into the space, not only for free exploration and making, but also for design challenges aligned to standards.

We held a Family Makerspace Night, bringing families into our Makerspace to see what the space is all about, making and creating together as a family.

After that evening, donations have come in from families and the community. Our Makerspace was featured in our local newspaper and presented to our school board, and we even built a Google site to share our story, highlighting student work.

It has been a very successful few months for our Makerspace! And while change is not always easy, we have supported each other and our students through this new way of thinking about learning and making. We have begun to recognize the importance of students figuring out solutions on their own, not being fed content all day, but becoming a part of the content filling their minds.

We built a Makerspace in our elementary school. And it has been transformative!

Yet, the beauty of a Makerspace is that the space is never "done". This space should grow with our students, always pulling in new materials and technology so that our students can continually be pushed in their making abilities. The Learning Lab Makerspace team is continually finding ways to integrate the space into our daily instruction. Even more than that, we are always looking for new materials and technology for our students to explore.

So, in order to model the importance of continually changing and adapting to our students' needs, we began with a dream of mine - building a Lego wall.

Legos are a timeless classic for creativity, building, and fun. Kids of all ages enjoy this magnificent toy. For many, Legos come with a set of instructions and a product to build. Other times, kids have free reign on their creativity in order to build something new and different.

In our school's Makerspace, Legos are a staple in our building station. Kids can create whatever they wish with Legos and even integrate those Legos with other materials for their project. With the inspiration of others online and on TV, we decided to put our Legos on the wall. Putting Legos on the wall not only is something new and different for our kids to experience, but it is also a space saver. Students can build on the wall, creating interesting artwork, simply creating anything new with Legos.

We made a HUGE Lego wall! And here is how we did it.

With the inspiration of Diana Redina's Renovated Learning site and amazing how-to blog post, we began with the vision of where to build our own Lego wall. First, we needed to measure how much space and how large we wanted to create our wall. Since we are an elementary school, I wanted to make sure even our youngest students could enjoy the full expanse of the wall. We kept the wall about a foot from the ground for our youngest students. Then, even our oldest students could enjoy all areas of the wall as well. Our wall is a little over 8 feet in length, and 5 feet in height. Our wall is wider, rather than taller, ensuring many students could be working at the wall at one particular time.

Once we had the concept of where we would build our Lego wall and how large we were going to make it, we had to order our materials.

Our materials are:

With my vision and the handyman skills of our maintenance director, we used the half-inch floor grade plywood and bolted it to the wall, of course making sure it was level. Beginning with our first sheet of wood, we placed the Lego plates on the board with either liquid nails or a strong construction adhesive. A small gap in between each Lego plate was needed in order to ensure Legos would connect between the plates. So, as plates were placed on the wall, the classic Lego pieces were used to make sure spacing was just right.

Once the first sheet of wood was nearly full, we measured and cut another sheet of wood, filling in the rest of the space according to the number of Lego plates we planned to use. After bolting those additional pieces to the wall, the rest of the Lego plates were put into place, again using the Lego pieces to ensure proper spacing in between each plate.

Once all the plates were in place, a small wood trim was nailed around the board to frame the Lego wall, finishing the wall nicely. After about 24 to 36 hours of drying the Lego wall was ready to use.

And it is just that simple.

The students' first encounter with the Lego wall has been interesting to watch, as many of them did not know what to start creating as their minds were swirling around the concept of building vertically. However, with a few days under our belt, more ideas have been discussed, starting the creation of pictures and words.

Our Makerspace will continue to evolve with our students. It is an exciting adventure to see it unfold!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, qrevolution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Vertical Build - How We Constructed Our Makerspace Lego Wall

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We built a Makerspace in our elementary school! And it has been such a transformative space for our students. I wrote a Fractus post on our journey earlier this year, and since then, the space has been buzzing with excitement.

# data[].attributes.body
Printable Lego Challange Calendar Ideas for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NEW! A free Printable LEGO challenge calendar to use anytime during the year. Print it out, hang it up, give it to your kids. Feel inspired and taking your LEGO building time in a new direction. I have written out 31 Days of fun LEGO ideas using the bricks you have and hopefully thinking of new ways to use some of those specialty pieces that don't see much action. We love kid's LEGO activities!

BEST EVER LEGO CHALLENGE CALENDAR FOR KIDS!

For our printable LEGO challenge calendar I wanted to come up with a few unique ideas to add to some classic LEGO challenges. If you take a closer look, I have tried to add an extra element wherever possible such as attaching a marker to a car for drawing. This takes a classic Build A Car LEGO challenge and add a cool new twist to it.

We have already made a few printable LEGO challenge activities including our LEGO Math Challenge Cards and our LEGO Travel Kit and Challenge Cards.

Check out our LEGO challenge calendar for some great activities to keep the kids busy after school or camp, during school vacation, or on a stuck inside day!

Although this LEGO challenge calendar provides a bit of structure, there is tons of room for creativity, imagination, and design on the part of your kids. Makes a great boredom buster for screen free fun!

If you want to learn more about building your LEGO collection on the inexpensive side or want to learn more about , we can help with that too.

HERE ARE SOME COOL LEGO STEM CHALLENGE IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED!

We try not to use many fancy pieces if at all, so you can really try these ideas at home. Learning how to use what you have to make something cool is a great skill for young kids to learn early on. You don't always need more of something. Instead you need to use your imagination and work with what you already have. Click on links below.

Explore physics with a LEGO Catapult

Design a LEGO Marble Maze

Learn how to play LEGO Paper Football

Mini bowling with a homemade LEGO Skittles game

Engineer LEGO Robots{no tech required}

Get arty with a LEGO Tree Mosaic

My son and I are looking to forward to creating seasonal and holiday LEGO challenge calendars this coming year! You can even make your own super fun LEGO Christmas Countdown or Advent Calendar. Check out our winter theme challenges below.

We have challenged ourselves to see what we can create with our LEGO collection. However, in the end, we are a huge fan of being able to build cool things with just a basic collection of bricks and pieces. Make sure to grab a copy of our new book too!

We also have seasonal LEGO challenge ideas for more themed building adventures. or photo below.

ALL SORTS OF FUN FREE PRINTABLE LEGO LEARNING ACTIVITIES HERE! Click on photo or link!

We do so much more than just LEGO if you haven't poked around the site yet! Click on photos below.

Happy learning, experimenting, and building this year!

Sarah and Liam

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
LEGO Challenge Calendar Free Printable LEGO STEM for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NEW! A free Printable LEGO challenge calendar to use anytime during the year. Print it out, hang it up, give it to your kids. Feel inspired and taking your LEGO building time in a new direction.

# data[].attributes.body
For the love of Arduino - Getting Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
My History with Arduino

I'm not sure of the way most people learn the complicated process of programming Arduino projects because I only know my own convoluted journey. I started the hard way following projects from the Arduino Starter Kit by building photo sensor theremins and electronic magic 8 balls. Here is one of my first Arduino projects I created at a class at the Denton Public Library. (The tweet below is a flashback to the Coding Bonanza I led at Lamar Library in 2014.)

I quickly found that I wanted to do things OTHER than what the projects outlined, but I just didn't have the code knowledge to hack projects and make them my own. I continued following projects and attempting to tinker with code. For someone with absolutely no background in coding, it was quite an arduous journey. Imagine my surprise when I found out about the ScratchX extension from Kreg Hanning at SXSWedu in 2015!

ScratchX

What a great place to start tinkering with Arduino! I love the work that Ryan Jenkins and The Tinkering Studio are now doing with paper circuits and ScratchX! I see this as a great place to start kids experimenting with Arduino kits (even though one of my favorite things is hooking up wires.) I'm hoping to put my own library Arduino kits on blocks and make first time users more comfortable playing with Arduino and physical computing.

But how can I get students learning the complicated language of Arduino without handing them a large Arduino Cookbook ?

Starter Arduino Kits (Arduino at Heart)

Hummingbird Robotic Kits and the littleBits Arduino module are great places to start. (I have my own littlebits Arduino project featuring Ardublock in our #bigmakerbook and another free littleBits project here. ) These two kits require minimal electronics knowledge, and can be combined with cardboard, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners to make amazing contraptions.

One can also begin to tinker with Arduino coding with any of these kits:

Tinkering with Arduino Lesson Plan

Plus, I've developed a lesson plan with the Sparkfun Tinkering Kit that revolves around tinkering with scribblebots and Arduino programming. It's available at Teachers Pay Teachers.

I wrote it as a challenge to myself because I don't normally see Arduino as a tinkerable process. It takes quite a lot of knowledge and expertise before one can start to tinker with Arduino coding. That's why I thought it would be great to develop a lesson around tinkering with Arduino code to actually learn how to write your own code. Check out the lesson here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
For the love of Arduino -Getting Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My History with Arduino I'm not sure of the way most people learn the complicated process of programming Arduino projects because I only know my own convoluted journey. I started the hard way following projects from the Arduino Starter Kit by building photo sensor theremins and electronic magic 8 balls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Easy navigation as students can see map of an area, their location and challenges at any time

Multilingual as multiple languages can be used for challenges

Teachers and students can be trained to use it in a very short time

Simple installationas apps just need to be downloaded and don't require any additional infrastructure to work

Creator CMS enhances skills in developing, designing, writing and in various other fields

Great for team building and field trips

Teach various subjectswith challengesabout history, culture, nature or the geology relative to the place where the game is played

Multiple account types allow teachers to assign students to their group

Easily follow up on player's activity, assist and guide them with question-bank and get reports of the activity in Creator CMS

Share content as admins can export games and later import to other accounts

Offline contentis installed on the device and does not require internet access to operate except for transferring scores and seeing where the other teams are located

If students do not have internet connection they can still play after they have downloaded the game at school where they have the connection and scores will be updated as soon as they reach internet connection again

1. How to join a game
A)Select a game from the map B) Select game from the list C) Join with invitation cod /QR Code

2. Select language and press "Join Game" (This will download game content)

Here you will see further info about the game; the title, description and logo. Also the information about how many treasure places there are and how many challenges are in the game and in which languages it is.
3. Enter your team's name 4. Share the invitation code with others
Every player will enter the same code for the same game.
5. The other teams enter the code in "Redeem Invitation" at the front page
6. It is time to play when all the teams have signed in

7. The one who invited the others starts the game - Press start game now

8. Find treasures and solve challenges

On this screen you will see the map and see where the next treasure is located. If the game has been designed in a way that there are no routes between the treasures then all the treasures will appear at once, but a game with trails connected treasures will only show the first treasure location. Go to the location and thechallenge will automatically appear on the phone once are in range of the treasure.

9. Your team is the blue dot on the map, the others are green

10. Complete challenges to earn a score

There are different types of challenges the game designer can use when he sets up a challenge at a treasure point. A treasure can have one or more challenges and player is rewarded by virtual gold coins and game items. When a user discovers a treasure, he will be presented with a challenge. There are multiple-choice questions, photo challenges and a memory card game.

The game designer decides what kind of rewards the player gets. >Either gold coins, bags of gold, bags of diamonds or the the elixir of invisibility which makes the player disappear from the map for a minute. There are three levels of memory game; easy, medium and hard. The boards are different and the player is given a certain time to finish the task, the seconds count down as he flips the cards.

11. Check scoreboard / End game

During the game, the player sees his scores right away in the lower right corner on the map. The scoreboard sjows all teams scorse, how many challenges have been solved and the scores for each one. The game can be ended from this screen.

Easy to use

Allows students to create interactive eBooks with images, text and audio in many languages

Multilingual - Publish eBooks in multiple langauges

Simple learning with text highlights synchronized with audio

Introduction to computer programming as you define what happens when users press a specific element

Switch page, play audio, play animation, play game, open map

Allow reader to move elements on a page

Allow picture to disappear when pressed

Get points when a picture is put to a right place

See on a Google Map where a story takes place

Text drop-down panel with scroll bar

Challenge the reader at each page

Multiple choice questions and scores

Play mini-games for points like Tic-Tac-Toe

Discussion material

Students have access to their own book in Creator CMS

Teachers can overview all their students' books in Creator CMS

Each school has bookshelves that only their pupils can see

Create Interactive Books and Treasure Hunt Games from one place.

Easy to use

See usage reports and observe game progress

Prices from €199

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Easy navigation as students can see map of an area, their location and challenges at any time Multilingual as multiple languages can be used for challenges Teachers and students can be trained to use it in a very short time Simple installationas apps just need to be downloaded and don't

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Step-by-step

We make it easy to learn how to make anything, one step at a time. From the stovetop to the workshop, you are sure to be inspired by the awesome projects that are shared everyday.

Made By You

Instructables are created by you. No matter who you are, we all have secret skills to share. Come join our community of curious makers, innovators, teachers, and life long learners who love to share what they make.

A Happy Place

Making things makes people happy. We can't prove it, but we know it to be true. Find your happy place, and join one of the friendliest online communities anywhere.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instructables is a community for people who like to make things. Come explore, share, and make your next project with us!

# data[].attributes.headline
7 Things you should know about Makerspaces

# data[].attributes.subject
7 Things you should know about Makerspaces

# data[].attributes.headline
Defining Makerspaces: What the Research Says

# data[].attributes.subject
Defining Makerspaces: What the Research Says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with criticism. I was told (not to my face) by a visitor to our school that our library makerspace is not a "real makerspace". This same person stated that our woodshop is a "real makerspace" because it has power tools. She suggested that I "do some research" on what makerspaces actually are.

Feeling personally insulted aside, what bothers me most about this statement is the concept that some makerspaces are more valid than others and that a makerspace is solely defined by the tools it contains. I do agree that our woodshop is a makerspace, even though we don't call it that. Our woodshop is awesome, and I'm so glad that we have a space where students can learn how to use saws, drills and other tools to build awesome projects as part of their curriculum. Yes, that is a makerspace.

But is my space any less of a makerspace simply because it doesn't have power tools? Because it doesn't have a 3D printer? Because my students build with LEGOs, K'nex and cardboard?

Defining Makerspaces

All of this got me thinking about how we define "makerspace". So I did what librarians do best: I researched. I gathered together my books on makerspaces, I searched our databases for articles, and I crowdsourced the amazing hive mind of Twitter.

For the record, here's my own definition of a school Makerspace:

A makerspace is a place where students can gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials.

A makerspace can be anything from a repurposed bookcart filled with arts and crafts supplies to a table in a corner set out with LEGOs to a full blown fab lab with 3D printers, laser cutters, and handtools. No two school makerspaces are exactly alike, nor should they be. Makerspaces are as unique as the school cultures they represent. There is no such thing as one form of making being more valid or better than the other. Makers are artists, crafters, knitters, seamstresses, builders, programmers, engineers, hackers, painters, woodworkers, tinkerers, inventors, bakers, graphic designers and more.

A #makerspace is a place where kids gather to create, invent, tinker, explore & discover. Click To Tweet

What the Research Says About Makerspaces

Here's where my research led me:

I like this definition from Samatha Roslund's book Makerspaces. I see three important elements to this definition: Place... people... make things. While different possible foci are mentioned, this definition does not limit a Makerspace to a particular set of tools. It's about a place, about a community. Another similar quote comes from the Educause Learning Initiative article, 7 Things You Should Know About Makerspaces:

"A makerspace is a physical location where people gather to share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network, and build."

Makerspaces are not about the tools; they're about enabling making.

More on Makerspaces

"... [A] space where kids have the opportunity to make - a place where some tools, materials, and enough expertise can get them started. These places, called makerspaces, share some aspects of the shop class, home economics class, the art studio and science labs. In effect, a makerspace is a physical mash-up of different places that allows makers and projects to integrate these different kinds of skills." Dale Dougherty, The Maker Mindset, in Design, Make, Play

"Even if you don't have access to expensive... hardware, every classroom can become a makerspace where kids and teachers learn together through direct experience with an assortment of high and low tech materials." ~ Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez in Invent to Learn

"A Makerspace is a metaphor for a unique learning environment that encourages tinkering, play and open-ended exploration for all" ~Laura Fleming, author of Worlds of Making

Making, Creativity, and Design

"What do you do in a makerspace? The simple answer is you make things. Things that you are curious about. Things that spring from your imagination... that inspire you and things that you admire. The informal, playful atmosphere allows learning to unfold, rather than conform to a rigid agenda. Making, rather than consuming is the focus. It is craft, engineering, technology and wonder-driven." Thinkers and Tinkerers

"The most important quality of a makerspace is that it encourages creativity. This can be done with a space full of hand tools, materials, and finished projects. The culture in a space should support the idea that anything is possible." 3 Key Qualities for a School Makerspace

"Makerspaces provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering and tinkering." Jennifer Cooper, Designing a School Makerspace (Edutopia)

"Makerspaces are collaborative learning environments where people come together to share materials and learn new skills... [they] are not necessarily born out of a specific set of materials or spaces, but rather a mindset of community partnership, collaboration, and creation." Library as incubator project

(Emphasis in quotes is mine)

The video above is really long by internet standards. But you should at least watch the first few minutes, where students share what their makerspace means to them.

Read up more on Makerspaces

(Note: post contains affiliate links. Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning)

Diana Rendina, MLIS, is the media specialist at Tampa Preparatory School, an independent 6-12 in Tampa, FL. Previously, she was the media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School for seven years, where she founded their library makerspace. She is the creator of the blog RenovatedLearning.com. She was a monthly contributor to AASL Knowledge Quest from 2015-2018. Diana is the winner of the 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator Award, the 2015 ISTE Librarians Network Secondary Award, the 2015 AASL Frances Henne Award & the 2015 SLJ Build Something Bold Award. She is an international speaker on the Maker Movement and has presented at conferences including AASL, FETC & ISTE. Diana co-authored Challenge-Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace with Colleen and Aaron Graves and is also the author Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Defining Makerspaces: What the Research Says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with criticism. I was told (not to my face) by a visitor to our school that our library makerspace is not a "real makerspace". This same person stated that our woodshop is a "real makerspace" because it has power tools.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sameiginleg Pinterest síða um MakerSpace

# data[].attributes.subject
Sameiginleg Pinterest síða um MakerSpace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find and save recipes, parenting hacks, style inspiration and other ideas to try.

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Run a SUPER Circut Bracelet Workshop

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Run a SUPER Circut Bracelet Workshop

# data[].attributes.headline
Next Gen Makerspaces: NGSS & Makerspaces

# data[].attributes.subject
Next Gen Makerspaces: NGSS & Makerspaces

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I recently began giving away a FREE Makerspace Planning Cheat Sheet on my Worlds of Making site. One of the the steps on that Cheat Sheet suggests unpacking the standards and using them to inform your makerspace planning. This includes the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which many states have adopted. These standards offer a new vision on what teaching and learning should look like that speak directly to the K-12 Maker Movement.

The NGSS are based on 3 Dimensions.

1. Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Consists of behavior scientists and engineers engage in; experts design and develop models to design and test abstract phenomena.

2. Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs): Describe core ideas in the science disciplines. These are grouped into 4 domains: the life sciences, the physical sciences; the earth & space sciences; the engineering & technology applications of science.

3. Crosscutting Concepts (CCC): concepts linking the different domains of science.

The National Science Teachers Association outlines 3 major things that are new from previous science teaching.

1. 3-Dimensional learning- learning in classrooms should be driven by students finding solutions to problems by using science and engineering practices.

2. Standards are designed with the goal of ALL students understanding society and the worlds we live in.

3. Curriculum materials that support the above and build those ideas across time.

NGSS learning opportunities need not be limited to just science classrooms.

Teaching practices have changed and so should the learning environments the new practices are taking place in. K-12 makerspaces are unique learning environments that can support the 3-dimensional learning outlined in the NGSS. Integrating the NGSS into a school makerspace doesn't necessarily have to be explicit. It is possible to capture the essence of these standards in our makerspaces in many ways, such as:

Including opportunities to invent, tinker, create, make and do in which students are able to use and show scientific practices in meaningful, authentic ways.

Allowing for open-ended exploration which will promote the development of children's agency, and allow children to ultimately make their own science.

Making use of student ideas and putting kids in the center. Understanding that their ideas are essential in creating meaning through making.

Maker educators having a mindset that supports 3-dimensional learning.

Supporting students as they develop increasingly sophisticated ideas over time. Oftentimes in a makerspace, our students first interactions are about discovering. Gradually over time, and through skill-building, collaboration and critical and divergent thinking, students oftentimes progress to much more complex scientific processes, such as engineering solutions and scientific inquiry.

Connecting makerspaces to community contexts. This may include inviting in local experts and mentors to build connections between home/community or engineering solutions to defined problems in the local neighborhood or community.

* For more on effectively planning and creating a makerspace, check out my new online course!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Next Gen Makerspaces: NGSS & Makerspaces - Worlds of Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I recently began giving away a FREE Makerspace Planning Cheat Sheet on my Worlds of Making site. One of the the steps on that Cheat Sheet suggests unpacking the standards and using them to inform your makerspace planning. This includes the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which many states have adopted.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
John Spencer

Posted on October 30, 2016

Yesterday, I got the chance to lead a discussion on makerspaces. I felt out of place as a facilitator, because I've never actually created a maker space. I know my limitations; and that includes redesigning the physical space of the classroom. If you asked me to create a list of items that "every maker space needs," I'd be stumped after listing cardboard, duct tape, scissors and maybe some Arduino and Raspberry Pi kits. I couldn't tell you what kind of laser cutters or 3D printers you need.

For what it's worth, I'm happy with tables, chairs, a place for some kids to stand, plenty of student art work on the wall, and some natural sunlight. Oh, and some decent storage is nice.

In other words, I've always been more focused on creating a space for makers than in creating maker spaces. Does every student feel the permission to make mistakes? Does every student have the chance to geek out? Are we creating spaces for making in every subject and every grade level?

I don't see creativity as a destination place that you have to go to in order to make it work. I'd rather see students find ways to to be creative thinkers and problem-solvers with any subject in any environment.

This isn't a slam on maker spaces. I love differentiated spaces. I love libraries and theaters and wood shops and art rooms. I love field trips. I love gardens and atriums and the space between the buildings where the trees change colors and canvas the ground with crispy leaves.

Spaces matter. I get that. If the maker space inspires teachers to integrate creativity into their curriculum, it is providing a valuable service. But I worry about the Computer Lab Effect, where tech integration used to be a tourist escape from the "real" learning in an "actual" classroom. I worry that making becomes a side project that teachers will add if there's time (and there's never enough time). It becomes another version of an electives class.

It's About the Maker Mindset

I came into the conversation yesterday feeling skeptical of where it might go.I expected long back-and-forth conversations about what should and should not go into a maker space.

But that's not what happened.

Our conversation had nothing to do with spaces and stuff. Instead, this group of amazing teachers shared stories of learning and instantly it had me wishing my kids were in their classroom.

They shared stories about the engineering challenges the fourth graders did and how they continued with this when they went back to their classroom. One teacher explained his maker projects in a social studies classroom as an object lesson on economic systems (and the changes that go on with moving from a command to a mixed economy).

We explored the constant cycle between curiosity and creativity and the very real challenges that can happen when students are risk-averse or when they, as teachers, feel nervous about student ownership.

Don't get me wrong. The teachers were excited about stuff. After all, who doesn't get at least a little excited with duct tape or cardboard? But that wasn't their primary motivation. These teachers were excited about the maker mindset and what Dale Doughtery (often referred to as the founder of the maker movement) describes as "experimental play." They were excited about the changes that happen as students learn how to problem-solve and engage in iterative thinking. They were excited about student ownership and agency. They were excited about the sheer joy that happens when kids love what they are learning.

And the thing is, you don't necessarily need a maker space to pull that off. You just need a group of passionate, creative teachers who willing to teach in a way that was different from how they learned in school growing up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
John Spencer Posted on October 30, 2016 Yesterday, I got the chance to lead a discussion on makerspaces. I felt out of place as a facilitator, because I've never actually created a maker space. I know my limitations; and that includes redesigning the physical space of the classroom.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Maker" is more about culture and less about space and stuff

# data[].attributes.subject
"Maker" is more about culture and less about space and stuff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Makerspace is a growing trend in education that requires aligned pedagogical beliefs and philosophies, but unfortunately gets implemented without much foundation, research or understanding of constructivism. Maker culture leans heavily on the idea of constructivism - that is, the notion that learning is best done through doing.

"I am convinced that the best learning takes place when the learner takes charge." - Seymour Papert

Maker culture is not something that we can easily define as it means different things to different people. Regardless, the movement from teacher centred to student centred activities requires a major shift in thinking and years of un-doing.

Many people define the last century of education as the industrial model - that is, a place where kids complete repetitive tasks in specific increments to prepare them for a factory line style position. With the ever growing increase in automation, industry looks different today than it did thirty years ago.

In schools where teachers typically lecture, provide assignments and handouts and test students at the end of a unit, a great deal of work is required to shift to a maker culture. Students are comfortable in being told what to do and understand the requirements to achieve what the teacher is asking of them. These types of schools tend to offer makerspaces that the teacher advocates for. If he or she likes robots, the students play with robots. If plastic cups and popsicle sticks are on sale at the Dollar Store, kids build towers.

"Making is a combination of learning, researching, and (rapidly) putting ideas into motion." -Kegan Schouwenburg

Maker culture is more of an organized chaos. Quite often, the direction students take is not necessarily what the teacher had planned or predicted. Makerspace and maker culture rest on the notion of risk taking, trial and error, a freedom to fail and passion projects. Ironically, we cannot expect much of these criteria in an evaluated system as there is too much risk in not getting the grade.

"In education, we largely use the language of empowerment but the actions of control. Is this true, and how does edtech play into that?" - Steve Hargadon

More and more libraries are being converted to makerspaces on a daily basis across the globe. I receive regular emails from people looking for the perfect checklist of hardware to create the perfect makerspace. However, makerspace isn't about stuff.

Kinaesthetic activities, learning by doing, hands on, etc. all require teachers to shift their practice from comfortable to uncomfortable. Students will be working on different projects, at different paces, and at different times. Nothing about makerspace is standard nor can creativity be measured by a standardized test. In fact, measuring the success of a passion project is not possible with a rubric of qualifiers as rubrics themselves tend to be standard in structure.

How do we empower, inspire and drive kids to want to pursue their passions?

We let go.

The biggest shift in my own pedagogy was the notion of letting go. For so long classroom management was directly correlated to the volume of noise in our classrooms. "Running a tight ship" meant kids were learning and you were doing a great job policing the noise level. But I am not a police officer.

Letting go doesn't mean there is no direction. Letting go means you have set the course, provided scaffolding and created a community of independence. Letting go means kid are passionate about learning, curious about learning and engaged in activities that are changing their world around them.

"At MakerBot, we joke that if we were engineers we would still be on our first prototype. There's something about just 'Doing it"...iteration is a way of engineering." -Bre Pettis

For so long I thought I had to know everything there was to know about technology when I should have spent my time learning my curriculum. It is imperative to recognize curriculum during makerspace activities so teachers can utilize those teachable moments in an authentic context. Traditionally, curriculum was taught in a silo - it was chunked into units and placed on a schedule. Maker culture relies on the notion of a spiralled curriculum where different students demonstrate different expectations at different times. Clearly this is difficult to manage from an evaluation lens. The "industry" model of education is easier to mark. All kids do the same, at the same time.

But industry has changed and so should education. Makerspace and maker culture are unique opportunities to develop collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, computational thinking, and a growth mindset. They are not new computer labs.

As happened with computing devices, someone's idea of a "maker space" is set up in a corner of the library, stored in a vacant room, or assembled in a cart rolled between classrooms. With students performing pre-planned activities for a fixed period of time, before returning to their "real" work.- Tim Stahmer

Maker culture is not about stuff, it is about mindset. Create a culture of independent problem solvers, risk takers and doers - both among staff and students. Then you will be ready for stuff.

"I think of the maker movement as being the web generation meets the real world." - Chris Anderson

(Visited 1,731 times, 1 visits today)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Makerspace is a growing trend in education that requires aligned pedagogical beliefs and philosophies, but unfortunately gets implemented without much foundation, research or understanding of constructivism. Maker culture leans heavily on the idea of constructivism - that is, the notion that learning is best done through doing.

# data[].attributes.headline
Prepping a Learning Space to Grow into a Makerspace

# data[].attributes.subject
Prepping a Learning Space to Grow into a Makerspace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many schools, museums, hospitals and all sorts of other institutions are beginning their "maker" programs on carts, in the corners of existing classrooms or in other temporary spaces.

As they see the enormous benefits of "maker" learning experiences for learners, more institutions are preparing to dedicate more permanent space to these programs-preparing to craft a dedicated makerspace.

While it's beneficial to grow a program gradually and to add equipment and materials gradually, you can't build a whole new space gradually. As everyone realizes at some point-perhaps after a home remodel-you can't just build for where you are right now. You have to build for where you're going.

After visiting dozens of makerspaces in preparation for our design, and now a year into our newly-built makerspace, I can offer the following recommendations to those beginning design for new builds. Not just the equipment and materials, but the architectural design. Some elements that we fought for turned out hugely important, and we found that there were some elements we missed.

Location. If the vision is to have a space that will bring STEM concepts *across* the school - tinkering-to-learn in social studies, world languages, everywhere - then the space needs to be both dedicated and not sequestered in a "STEM" part of the building. This is a great aspect of integrating makerspaces with libraries... libraries are already known as all-school spaces. Our space is situated in full view of the central school courtyard, in an area accessed by all classes for world languages and art, too.

Clear Line-of-Sight. In our original drawings, the back "woodworking room" was going to be a completely closed space, with only a pair of solid double doors between the main space and that room. This would have prevented me from seeing what was happening in that room at all! We convinced our architects to add a large window between the two spaces, so now, when I hear the miter saw come to life, I only need to glance over, confirm that it's a trained adult and not a wandering adolescent, and go back to what I was doing.

Storage. Unlimited and highly efficient storage is a universal request for learning spaces, but an additional recommendation for makerspace: no cabinetry. Cabinets hide materials, so kids don't know what's available. Open, non-industrial shelving allows all available materials and tools to be visible. Additionally, there needs to be separate storage for construction materials and for students' in-progress projects. As you can see in the picture of our storage below, our in-progress project storage (on the right, under the window) needs some work.

Electrical Outlets. A wall without an electrical outlet is a lost opportunity. The wall in our makerspace pictured below has zero electrical outlets on any side, severely limiting how we can use it. Further, an electrical-outlet-desert in the middle of a room is a hindrance. Think carefully about whether to install ceiling-mounted or in-floor electrical outlets.

In our digital space-with unmoving computer stations-in-floor electrical outlets give us the flexibility to place computer stations without extension cords running to the walls. In our building space, ceiling-mounted pull-down electrical outlets (visible in many pictures here) give us similar flexibility without the tripping hazard caused by uncovered in-floor outlets.

Ventilation. Even if starting without soldering, 3D printing, vacuum forming or laser cutting, consider the enormous expense it would entail to retrofit sufficient ventilation into an existing space. If you're building a new space, or even just opening up the walls of an existing space, plan for significant ventilation needs in the future.

Many schools fitting makerspaces into existing spaces are needing to purchase large and very costly filtration systems to make up for a lack of ventilation. Even with our large and lovely hood, I'm already wishing for more ventilation as we add a vacuum former to our equipment.

Flooring. We talked our architects out of carpet for our building space, and the final vinyl tiling pattern designed by our head-of-school had a great serendipitous effect... The grid formation gave us great structure for on-the-fly group organization! Younger elementary-aged kids benefit from having a distinct line to "line up" on, and groups that need to spread out to work benefit from being assigned to a specific section of grid. Perhaps this is something school architects already know, but it's amazing how flooring pattern can support (or, presumably, hinder) each group management!

Continuous New Findings. Just as teachers stay up-to-date on the latest research in effective teaching and learning, architects for schools need to stay up-to-date on the latest research on how space impacts learning. Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but I can't emphasize enough how critical I think Dr. Sapna Cheryan 's research is in designing and maintaining STEM learning spaces that are equitable and promote belonging for ALL learners.

I hope learning institutions continue moving towards encouraging "maker" education and the idea of tinkering-for-learning. As more and more institutions do so, we're also continuing to learn more and more best practices, from getting off the ground to dedicating significant time, space and professional development to the movement. Wherever you are in your process, there are more great resources to get you moving, from this

Wherever you are in your process, there are more great resources to get you moving, from this iNACOL webinar with my colleague Lina Rose and myself, to the #makered Twitter hashtag, to the K12 Fab Labs Google group.

For more, see:
Stay in-the-know with all things EdTech and innovations in learning by signing up to receive the weekly Smart Update . This post includes mentions of a Getting Smart partner. For a full list of partners, affiliate organizations and all other disclosures, please see our Partner page

Lindsey Own teaches science at The Evergreen School in Shoreline, WA. Follow Lindsey on Twitter, @LindseyOwn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Prepping a Learning Space to Grow into a Makerspace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many schools, museums, hospitals and all sorts of other institutions are beginning their "maker" programs on carts, in the corners of existing classrooms or in other temporary spaces. As they see the enormous benefits of "maker" learning experiences for learners, more institutions are preparing to dedicate more permanent space to these programs-preparing to craft a dedicated makerspace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Makerspace Resource Library

I've been a Maker in one form or another for a long time, way before that word was even common. I learned how to sew from my mom in high school. In college, I learned how to knit and crochet from my best friend. I frequently dabbled in other crafty enterprises as well. While I would tend to learn the initial skill in person, my favorite place for improving my skills was the public library. I think there was a period where I had checked out just about every book under 746.63 (knitting) and 646 (sewing).

We need to provide books & resources in our makerspaces to support our students' learning Click To Tweet

Supporting our Makers through the collection

Fast forward to today. There's a ton of amazing posts out there on all the gadgets, gizmos and supplies to stock for your students in a Makerspace. But there isn't a lot of advice on books to get to support the skills your students are learning. Once kids get started with robotics/knitting/coding/soft circuitry/insert-Maker-skill here, they're going to want to learn more about it. And while there's certainly tons of Maker tutorials out there on the internet, shouldn't our libraries be supporting these new skills with books as well?

Before we even had any Makerspace supplies at Stewart, I wrote a grant to create a STEM Maker Library, adding $1,000 worth of books to our collection about Arduino, 3D printing, origami, duct tape crafts, LEGOs, etc. The books in this makerspace resource library check out like crazy, and they've been an important part of the Makerspace program.

Basic steps for building your makerspace resouce library

Get at least one or two books geared towards maker educators to help expand your own knowledge

If you're elementary, make sure to start building up a collection of makerspace picture books for your little ones and for story time

Add a variety of project books that can help students to build up their maker skillsets (great for programs too)

Find a few books that can offer visual inspriation for your students and place them around your space (think coffee table books on art and design)

Make a list of all the tools and materials you have available in your makerspace - get at least one or two books on each of these tools

If there's a certain tool or technology that your students are interested in but isn't in your makerspace (i.e. 3D printer, robots, etc) get a few books on that too.

20 Makerspace Book Recommendations

I've gathered together some of my favorite book recommendations for makerspace libraries into this post. And please note that, while I am a librarian, you can totally get these books for your classroom makerspace, fab lab, or anywhere else your students are making. Books for makerspaces fall into many categories, so I'll break down some of my recommendations here. Think about balancing your collection between the different categories. Also consider things like art and architecture books for visual inspiration. And make sure you have plenty of how-to books for specific tools in your makerspace (ie. 3D printing, Arduino, etc). If you want to see ALL my recommendations, check out my Pinterest board (more on that at the bottom of this post)

Books for Maker Educators

These are books that are geared more towards the teachers, though some students might find them interesting as well. They are essential for your professional development library and will help you to build and grow your makerspace program. (And yes, I put my book in there, but I think it's pretty awesome).

Picture Books for Young Makers

There are SO many fabulous picture books for young makers out there, I can't possibly feature them all. These books are excellent for elementary and are a great way to incorporate making into story time. But even if you're secondary, I think your students will still love them. Here's a few of my favorites:

Project Books

Your makerspace resource library should definitely include some project books. Books with project ideas are a great way to help kids get their creative juices flowing and build their skill sets. They might start by following the directions, but they'll quickly begin branching off with their own ideas. Project books are also great resources for hosting maker lunches and maker clubs.

Visual Inspiration

Some books might not necessarily explain how to do something, but instead will offer up beautiful visual inspiration. There are tons of amazing books of art, design, and architecture out there. Leave some of these laying around on your makerspace tables for students to discover. Here are a few of my favorites for makerspaces:

Tool Specific Maker Books

You absolutely want to have books that are specific to the tools and materials in your makerspace resource library. Whether you have cardboard and duct tape or 3D printers and Arduinos, there are tool/material specific books out there for you. And even if it's a tool you don't have yet, you may still have students who are interested in learning more about it.

Makerspace Pinterest Board - Books to Get

I've only included a handful of the books I recommend for each category in this post. But more and more awesome books are coming out everyday. I wanted a way to continue to share more ideas for great books we should be providing to our kids. Enter my Makerspace Books Pinterest board:

I wanted a visual way to continually add more books to recommend for supporting Makerspaces and building up a makerspace resource library. Some of these books are geared towards educators who are wanting to know more about the Maker Movement. Others are geared towards students with project ideas. Some are geared towards cool science projects kids can do with their families. And I think that they can all have a place in our library. I haven't read every single one of these books, and I don't have all of them in my collection (yet). So obviously, do your usual vetting before going out and purchasing the entire board.
What are some of your favorite books in your makerspace resource library? Tell me in the comments! (Note: Post contains affiliate links. Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning)
Diana Rendina, MLIS, is the media specialist at Tampa Preparatory School, an independent 6-12 in Tampa, FL. Previously, she was the media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School for seven years, where she founded their library makerspace. She is the creator of the blog RenovatedLearning.com & is also a monthly contributor to AASL Knowledge Quest. Diana is the winner of the 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator Award, the 2015 ISTE Librarians Network Secondary Award, the 2015 AASL Frances Henne Award & the 2015 SLJ Build Something Bold Award. She is an international speaker on the Maker Movement and has presented at conferences including AASL, FETC & ISTE. Diana co-authored Challenge-Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace with Colleen and Aaron Graves and is also the author Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Build An Awesome Makerspace Resource Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Makerspace Resource Library I've been a Maker in one form or another for a long time, way before that word was even common. I learned how to sew from my mom in high school. In college, I learned how to knit and crochet from my best friend.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
FREE Download- Makerspace Materials Supply List

One of the most common questions we get is in regards to buying makerspace materials. There are a ton of products and supplies out there and it can be overwhelming to pick the right ones especially if you are just starting out. One of the first steps you should do before spending any money is to talk with the people who will be using your makerspace. Some schools and libraries have done formal or informal surveys to capture this data. These surveys can help to determine what projects and areas of interest people are most excited about. But always remember that one of the best parts of maker education is discovery. It's good to have items that people know they like but always make sure to include projects and products they've never used before. Makerspaces are a great way to help students discover new interests and potential career paths.

The list below contains a lot of great products that are makerspace friendly. They are ranked in no particular order and are all worth checking out.

Products

Makey Makey - an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It's a simple invention kit for beginners and experts doing art, engineering, and everything in between.

littleBits - These are electronic building blocks that connect using magnets. These blocks allow you to create inventions large and small. Each bit is color-coded and has a distinct function. Great for developing critical thinking and fostering teamwork.

- Robot blocks that are connected together using magnets. No coding experience is needed. Snap the robot blocks together and the magnetic faces do the rest. Every unique arrangement creates a new robot with different behaviors.

Circuit Stickers (Chibitronics) - Build circuits without soldering. Circuit stickers are reusable LED stickers that allow you to create paper circuits with any material that is conductive such as copper tape or electric paint. There are a variety of sensors and add-ons available.

- An app-controlled robotic ball that can be programmed. The SPRK Lighting Lab app empowers anyone to program their robot. The visual block-based building interface makes learning the basics of programming easy and fun.

Squishy Circuits - Create circuits safely and easily by using conductive and insulating play dough. Fun way to teach the basics of electrical circuits. Bring creations to life by adding LEDs, buzzers and motors. The dough can be made using everyday ingredients.

- Great for all ages especially those students in preschool, elementary and middle school. Lego blocks can be integrated in a variety of subjects and are great hands-on learning tools. Lego Education has curriculum for all grades. Perfect for engineering units.

Snap Circuits - As the name implies, Snap Circuit parts are modular based and snap together to form a variety of circuits and projects. Use the provided guide to make items such as FM radios, voice recorders, alarms, doorbells and more. Fun and easy way to learn about electronics and circuits.

- This material is great for prototyping structures or for use in making squishy circuits. Making squishy circuits with Play-Doh is an easy and safe way to learn about circuits and electricity. This is also a perfect way to incorporate the Arts or STEAM into projects.

Goldie Blox - Award-winning construction toys designed for girls. Through the integration of storytelling and STEM principles these products help to encourage more females to choose an engineering career path. Kits for all ages from preschool to adult.

- This is an open source construction platform where you can make a variety of robotic units ranging from a rover to a drone using modular parts. These kits provide hands-on learning for all ages and skills levels.

- Robots that make learning to code fun and easy. These are real robots that teach kids programming while they play. Make the robots sing, dance and navigate obstacles using the free apps via a tablet or smartphone. Great for robotics competitions.

- An easy to assemble, snap together toy that teaches students about modular design and geometric shapes. This is a great construction toy alternative that provides a fun way to create small and large structures. Great for developing engineering skills.

Lego Mindstorms - Programmable robotics construction set that enables you to build, program and control custom built LEGO robots. Kits contain software, hardware sensors and motors. The latest system is called the Mindstorms EV3 which allows you to create 17 robots.

- Snap together rod and connector building system. Sets include wheels, gears, pulleys, rods and K'NEX connectors that allow for unlimited creative construction. You can design and build everything from roller coasters to vehicles.

- Education edition is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration and problem solving in an immersive environment. The virtual game enables players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D generated world.

- A free educational programming language that was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scratch is designed to be fun, educational and easy to learn. Create interactive stories, games, art, simulations and more using block-based programming.

Raspberry Pi - A low cost, high-performance computer that was developed for computer science education. It plugs into a computer monitor and uses a standard keyboard. It enables people to program in languages such as Scratch or Python.

- Is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for anyone making interactive projects. Arduino senses the environment by receiving inputs from sensors and can control lights, motors and actuators.

VEX Robotics - A classroom robotics platform for middle school, high school and beyond. Used in robotics competitions, students can design and build a robot to play against other teams. It's a great way to incorporate game-based engineering education.

- Snap together 3D toy system invented by a former teacher and engineer. Kits includes snap-fit components such as gears, pulleys, motors, solar panels and more. Also included is a series of activity books and software.

- Smart, small programmable robot that operates with autonomous behavior using a photo sensor array. Robot is controlled via an app and can detect colors, lights and patterns. Other sensors on the robot include infrared proximity sensing.

Keva Planks - Wooden planks designed to allow students to design and build structures such as towers, bridges, catapults and more. Keva planks are a great solo or teamwork STEAM activity and help to encourage critical thinking skills.

Bee-Bot / Blue-Bot - Robot designed for use by young children. Colorfully designed, easy to operate and friendly looking little robot was designed to teaching sequencing, estimation and problem solving. Includes a robot docking station for charging and curriculum for school.

- A hands-on platform for kids to build, collaborate and tell stories through video game creation. This is a video game development platform with easy-to-use physical and digital tools. Students decide what the game looks like and how it is played.

- Is an open source, Arduino based Nanosatellite based on the CubeSat standard. It contains a set of Arduino boards and sensors. It is the first open source satellite which provides access to space. Choose from a number of projects to perform on their Experiment Hub.

Hummingbird Robotics - Turn anything into a light-up, moving, sensing robot. Kits allow for the creation of everything from kinetic sculptures to animatronic robots. Included in some kits are LEDs, motors, servos and sensors.

HyperDuino - This kit has everything needed to make interactive maker projects. Add lights and sensors to school projects, models and art installations. The HyperDuino can control a maximum of 12 LEDs and 12 touch sensors.

- Cardboard construction system for 21st century thinking,making and play. Recycle cardboard into amazing creations. Makedo is a simple to use system of tools and connectors for re-purposing cardboard into everything from costumes to vehicles.

Intel Edison - An ultra small computing platform that will allow you to work with embedded electronics. High speed processor with WiFi and Bluetooth on board. It's low power and small footprint make it ideal for maker projects.

Magformers - Geometric magnetic building toys for children. Building blocks contain neodymium magnets and have a patented "always attracting" contact point. Create complex or simple structures or vehicles using specific kits. Durable construction.

- Sells educational kits and class packs that range from solar walking robot to a robotic arm to a salt water fuel cell vehicle. Kits contain step by step directions with no solder assembly and some have class curriculum included.

Kinetic Sand - Great medium for creating and molding incredible sand art. Kinetic Sand sticks to itself and not to your hands and is easily cleaned up. Helps to stimulate creative skills by allowing makers to create anything they can imagine. It's reusable and doesn't dry out.

- Prototyping toy for makers of all ages. Strawbees allows you to connect straws to each other and build small to large mechanical objects. You can always modify projects as you go because connectors are not permanent and can be adjusted.

Electric Paint - Bare Conductive - Electrically conductive paint and sensor hardware that allows makers to create circuits on almost any material including paper, wood, plastic and glass. Perfect for small scale projects, prototyping, interactive art and more.

Circuit Scribe - Draw circuits on paper using circuit scribe conductive ink pen. Explore basic circuit concepts by drawing conductive drawings and creating paper-based switches. You are able to connect a variety of outputs to these circuits such as LEDs, motors and buzzers.

- Modular building system of oversized plastic blocks that facilitates the construction of all types of objects. Anything constructed can be easily taken apart and re-assembled again. No tools are required to install or disassemble blocks.

- Green screen software that makes it easy to create incredible videos and images on your smartphone or tablet. The app lets you combine photos and videos with an easy to use interface. Tell a story or creation a school production.

- World's first mouldable glue that sticks permanently to materials like ceramics, glass, metal, wood and most plastics. Sugru turns into a durable, flexible silicone rubber that stays in place. Cures in 24 hours into durable rubber. Waterproof, flexible, heat and cold resistant.

LilyPad Switch - A simple push button or slide switch that can be soldered, sewn or taped to circuits. Use as a on/off switch to control LEDs, buzzers, sensors and more. Switch is small enough to be integrated into wearable maker projects. It is even washable.

Google Cardboard - VR - A virtual reality platform developed by Google. The cardboard display works with your smartphone and utilizes the cardboard app to help you put VR content in your hands. There are videos and content created to work with this VR display.

Hobby Motor - DC - These 130 size hobby motors can be used in a variety of interactive makerspace projects. They have a low voltage and generally operate in the 4.5 to 9VDC range. This range makes them perfect for using with Arduino

Finch Robot - The Finch is a small robot designed for learning computer science and coding. It provides students with a physical representation of their code. On-board features include accelerometers, light and obstacle sensors.

- Educational robots with the goal of making learning robotics easy, fun and open source. They offer a few different types of robots including Hexy the Hexapod and Sparki which was designed for use in classrooms. Learn about advanced robotics and servo operation.

LEGO Wall Baseplate - Build a LEGO wall in your makerspace by utilizing baseplates and connectors. These can also be used on horizontal surfaces such as custom LEGO tables. These baseplates are usually glued in place

- Educational toy that teaches kids how to build circuits, learn to code and be inventive. Kits include magnetic circuit blocks that snap together. Use the drag and drop programming interface to control your creations and creative projects.

- The PLY90 is a connector that is a faster, better looking alternative to drilling and screwing projects together. These brackets are made from high strength aluminum alloy and can be quickly disassembled for moving or recycling projects.

Vibration Motor - These vibrating motors are great for creating bristlebots. These bots are super fun to build and then race in your makerspace. You can also take apart an electric toothbrush to find one of these motors.

Piezo Buzzer - These buzzers can be added to a wide range of projects. Piezo elements convert vibration to voltage or voltage to vibration. This means you can use this buzzer for making beeps or use it as a sensor.

Plastic Syringe w Tubing - This is a great material to help with the study of hydraulics in action. Using a syringe and tubing you can create a hydraulic arm that operates with just air or liquids under pressure. This is a great way to help visualize how the system works.

Sewable Battery Holder - If you are working on wearable maker projects, this sewable battery holder is one of the easiest ways to help power your project. This holder is meant to be used with (1) CR2032 coin cell battery

- A building kit for hands-on free play and learning. It's a collection of solid wooden planks, wheels, pulleys, nuts, bolts and rope designed to engage the creative spirit in children. There is no wrong way to assemble the parts.

Alligator Clips - Double-ended alligator clips are very useful in a variety of applications. You can use them for testing and prototyping.

Consumable Materials

Painter's Tape

Transparent Tape

Wood Craft Sticks

Plastic Drinking Straws

Paper Clips

Binder Clips

Hook & Loop (Velcro)

Paper Cups & Plates

EVA Foam Sheets

Foam Board

Batteries

Rubber Bands

LEDs

Conductive Copper Tape

Double-Sided Tape

Fishing Line

Bamboo Skewers

Balsa Wood

Altoids Tins

80/20 Aluminum Extrusion

Solder ( Lead Free)

Super Glue

Gorilla Glue

Hot Glue Sticks

Spray Adhesive

Toothpicks

Instamorph - (Moldable Plastic)

PVC Pipe

Acrylic Paint

Zip Ties

String / Yarn

Fabric

Brass Fasteners

Paper ( Craft/Construction)

Chipboard

Get The FREE Makerspace Materials Supply List

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
100+ Makerspace Materials & Products w/ Supply List - Makerspaces.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
FREE Download- Makerspace Materials Supply List One of the most common questions we get is in regards to buying makerspace materials. There are a ton of products and supplies out there and it can be overwhelming to pick the right ones especially if you are just starting out.

# data[].attributes.body
MakerED Resources For School Makerspaces.

# data[].attributes.headline
Makerspace Materials: Stock the Staples to Ignite Imaginations

# data[].attributes.subject
Makerspace Materials: Stock the Staples to Ignite Imaginations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The journey of building and maintaining a makerspace in our school is never-ending. Less than one year ago, we opened the doors of our Learning Lab Makerspace to our students, who have since experienced creating, tinkering and play. While still in its infancy, our Learning Lab has gone through a major transformation into the makerspace and yet has still continued to change based on our students' interests and needs.

We have built the maker mindset from the ground up in our school, with teachers finding new ways to use the space to empower students to solve problems and with students finding their creative side as they tinker and explore. The space has grown in materials and ideas and even our parents are intrigued by what happens in there, bringing donations of supplies so that our students can continue to make.

Even though our makerspace has seen its changes, there are materials that have become staples. Some of our must-haves are consumables, where students create ideas and projects in the art station. Other must-haves are not consumables, but are always in use. Here is our top ten list of elementary makerspace must-have materials.

1. Cardboard

What would a makerspace be without cardboard? Large boxes or small cardboard scraps are always in use, from creating small stencils to building large projects, our cardboard is never fully stocked since it is always in use. What is even better is that cardboard is free! We save boxes around the school and our parents are always donating shoe boxes and other smaller boxes for our students to use.

2. Duct Tape

Without tape, we cannot hold our objects together. Duct tape does more than just holding projects together, it can create too! Some students create their projects with just duct tape. The bolder the design, the better! Gray duct tape is a thing of the past with all of the colors and designs that are available. The problem is that these bold designs can become expensive. Therefore, we rely on the clearance aisle at our nearby stores, finding last season's designs and colors. To our kids, they are the best colors and designs out there!

3. Scotch Tape/Masking Tape

Duct tape cannot do it all. Sometimes, we need a different kind of tape to hold it all together. Scotch tape and masking tape fall into a different category of must-haves because these two kinds of tape are in constant demand. Elementary students use these types of tape like water-if duct tape isn't the right fit, then another tape will hold it together. There are just certain creations where scotch tape and masking tape do a "better job", making them must-haves for a makerspace. Since we go through a lot of tape on a daily basis, a local dollar store is the best place to find what we need.

4. Empty Toilet Paper & Paper Towel Rolls

The best donation ever to come to our makerspace was a bag of empty toilet paper rolls. Our students found these to be great basketball hoop posts, bug creations and even decorated pencil holders. The list of what has been created with these empty rolls is endless. We often run out of these items before another donation will come in. The beauty of this material is that it is free.

5. Blocks & Lego

Our students love Lego and blocks. They loved them so much that we built a Lego Wall. Even better than that, we have so many different kinds of blocks, from cardboard bricks to wood blocks, that our students have created towers, obstacle courses, tunnels and designs using the blocks. Furthermore, Lego blocks and otherwise have found no age limit. From our kindergarten students to our 5th grade students, they are building with blocks and Lego. We have found more sophisticated Lego kits, such as the Lego Mindstorms, to be intriguing, as now we can incorporate coding into our makerspace.

6. Fabric, Felt & Ribbon

To a maker's eye, fabric, felt and ribbon are a designer's dream. These can be cut to any shape or length, cover any cardboard and can add a touch of finesse to a project. Again, these materials are based on donations, we have never had to purchase any!

7. Recycled Containers

I never would have thought about it, but recycled plastic and small glass containers are a hot commodity in the makerspace. Students have created magnetic utensil holders for their desks, flower vases and other neatly decorated containers for other functions using these recycled containers. It all started with a donation of Crystal Light plastic containers and from there, recycled containers have become a must-have in the makerspace.

8. Odds & Ends Craft Supplies

The art station is constantly in use. Most of the must-haves are found in this station. When we brainstormed the art station, we thought of all the cool art supplies, such as pom-poms, feathers, pipe cleaners, clothes pins, beads and googley eyes. While these are wonderful to have, what we didn't think about right away were the essential items, such as scissors, rulers, pencils, markers and crayons. These may seem like automatic materials essential for every makerspace, which they are, however they are often overlooked because of all the other "flashy" materials. It is imperative to have A LOT of scissors, rulers, pencils, markers and crayons. You simply cannot have enough of these essential items!

9. Little Bits

We began our makerspace with little bits and still today, they are a must-have. These little parts teach students about circuits, making light, sound and objects move. At first, little bits were a novelty. Now, our students are thinking about how to build projects with them instead of just creating loud noises. We were fortunate enough to be able to purchase the Pro Library, giving us access to so many different little bits, as well as the Makey Makey kits. However, any size little bits will do when getting kids excited about building on a different level than before.

10. 3Doodler Start

Our newest addition to our makerspace has already solidified its place in the must-have list. With this pen, kids can draw in the air, making objects from a plastic filament, designing on paper. The 3Doodler Start is a new item, coming out just this past summer. The best part is that there are no hot parts so kids won't get burned using the device. Students can use the pre-made designs or create their own, designing unique 3D objects. We only have three pens and I am already looking to order more!

The makerspace is always evolving, always filling with more materials and more ideas. This list is definitely not exhaustive of all of our materials, but these have easily become our must-have materials for kids to make, create, tinker and play. As our makerspace continues to evolve, so will this list!

What materials are your must-haves in your makerspace? Let us know in the comments section below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, f3nd1.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Makerspace Materials: Stock the Staples to Ignite Imaginations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The journey of building and maintaining a makerspace in our school is never-ending. Less than one year ago, we opened the doors of our Learning Lab Makerspace to our students, who have since experienced creating, tinkering and play.

# data[].attributes.headline
7 Questions I Ask About a Makerspace Tool, Before I Embrace it

# data[].attributes.subject
7 Questions I Ask About a Makerspace Tool, Before I Embrace it

# data[].attributes.body
Grein eftir Krissy Venosdale frá 17. nóvember 2016

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
With the advertisement of maker-this and maker-that, there are a flood of products claiming to be the "next big thing" you need in your makerspace. I've tried some things I love, somethings I thought fell short, and I'm constantly on the lookout for new ideas, new gadgets, and new ways to use old things.

1.) USE: Is this tool versatile? Can it be used in an open ended way?

2.) GROWTH: Can this tool grow with the students?

3.) CHALLENGE: Is it going to offer hard fun? Is it a challenge?

4.) STUDENT-DRIVEN: Is it going to offer a fully student-driven experience? Or will it require a teacher to be in charge of it always?

5.) SOFTWARE/APP: Does it work with only one type of software or app? Does that app allow for open creation?

6.) CURRICULUM: Can it's use be tied into existing curriculum for classroom experiences?

7.) QUALITY: Rechargeable? Sturdy? Is it going to hold up with multiple uses and a variety of kids tinkering with it or is it easy for kids to create with it?

I'm always looking at products and mentally scoring them... looking for a yes to the questions above. According to my questions, a hammer is a 7-star item! On the other hand, a set of robotic cubes I was SUPER excited about turned out to be so limited, they rarely left the shelf. Looking at the questions? It's a 2-star (2 yes answers only). That doesn't mean the product wasn't fun, but it means it's not fun for very long... or challenging. I know making is NOT about the stuff, but the stuff we stock our spaces with should stoke the fires of creativity.

It's so important that you KNOW your students on a personal level, because their questions and creative ideas will guide what's needed in the learning space. The kids favorite things in our space continue to be the found materials like cardboard, beads, pipe cleaners, and cardboard tubes. If several years ago, someone offered me a choice between a box of cardboard tubes or robotic cubes, I would have laughed and grabbed the cubes. Now I'm not so sure. Slowing down and thinking about how materials are used can help guide us to make the right choices, and in the end, make the best space possible for our students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Questions I Ask About a Makerspace Tool Before I Embrace It

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With the advertisement of maker-this and maker-that, there are a flood of products claiming to be the "next big thing" you need in your makerspace. I've tried some things I love, somethings I thought fell short, and I'm constantly on the lookout for new ideas, new gadgets, and new ways to use old things.

# data[].attributes.body
Mjög góðar leiðbeiningar um gerð "Wigglebot Robot". Texti, ljósmyndir og kennslumyndskeið.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Okay, so technically this is not a robot. It doesn't have any sensors. It doesn't have a controller or computer chip. It isn't responding directly to external stimuli. But, hey, you have to start somewhere and my kindergartener definitely thought our homemade wigglebot was cool. He was so excited by our wiggly, spinning, little motorized guy that he's already making big plans for our next "robot", which he says will have arms. (I had to explain to him that, unfortunately, I did NOT know how to make microbots like in Big Hero 6, but he was impressed enough by my skills that he didn't immediately assume they were off the table.)

The idea for this bot came from the book Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future. The specific project that motivated this activity was the Art-Making Vibrobot on pages 24 to 26, though I modified the supplies considerably and the technique slightly. Basically this little "robot" is just a cup with marker legs that vibrates and spins due to the motor being off balance. As it jiggles around on a piece of paper it makes interesting designs. While I hope to make more exciting and complicated projects with my kids as they get older, this was a nice unthreatening activity to start with which showed my child how to hook up a simple DC motor to a battery. He's already familiar with some of these electrical concepts through our Snap Circuits set (link to my review), but this was a fun, hands-on supplement to the more structured activities in that set.

Check out this video if you would like to see a demonstration of how one of our wigglebots moved, though they each have their own unique personality depending on the length and position of the legs.

Recommended Age Range: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School (younger kids will need adult supervision and assistance since this project uses hot glue)
Time Required: ~30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Less than $8 in used supplies (The motor was $3.50 and the battery holder was $1.50 at Radio Shack (our local electronics store). Everything else we already had on hand.)
Materials:

Disposable cup

Electrical tape

3 Markers

2 "AAA" battery holder (affiliate link)

2 "AAA" batteries

1.5-3 V DC Motor (affiliate link)

Clothespin

Popsicle stick

Googly eyes (optional, you could always just draw them on)

Supplies & Tools:

Scissors

Permanent marker (to draw face, not shown)

Glue (optional, for attaching googly eyes. Note that the picture shows Elmer's Glue, but we ended up finding the hot glue gun worked better.)

Instructions:

1. First tape the markers into the cup as legs.

2. Next attach the battery pack to the DC motor by wrapping the wire around the leads on the motor. (When my kids are older, i'll teach them how to solder, but for now, this is sufficient.)

3. Now that the battery pack is attached to the motor, tape the battery pack onto the top of the disposable cup slightly off center. I cut the strips of electrical tape in half.

4. Next tape the DC motor onto the cup.

5. At this point you could turn on the motor by placing the batteries into the holder, to see that with the motor not off balance, nothing exciting happens. Next add on the clothespin to the motor and it should start to wiggle a little bit.

6. To make the wigglebot wiggle more, you need the motor to be more off balance. I accomplished this by taping a popsicle stick to the clothespin. However, then my clothespin would frequently fall off of the motor due to the strong vibrations, so I folded the end of a long narrow piece of electrical tape over the motor and then wrapped the tape around the motor so that the sticky side was facing out.

7. Attach the clothespin and weight to the motor.

8. Make a face on your wigglebot, plug in the batteries, place it on a piece of paper and watch it wiggle and spin!

Note that unlike a prepackaged robotics kit which provides very specific instructions, this can be viewed as an open-ended activity. While the "tape fix" to get the clothespin to stick to the motor worked, one could definitely try to think of improvements to be able to cantilever more weight off the axle in order to make the wigglebot vibrate even more. The robotics book mentioned above recommends sticking a piece of cork into the shaft. There are also other adjustments that could be made and you should definitely encourage your child to ask questions and try to find solutions. What would happen if the legs were not all the same length? What if we attached the motor at an angle or sideways? What if we taped on more legs? I don't know. What if?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider signing up for my newsletter to have more ideas delivered to your inbox.

Click here for more Robotics activities for kids.

Related Links

Technology and Engineering Activities for Kids
Learning Activities for Kids
Best Books for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Okay, so technically this is not a robot. It doesn't have any sensors. It doesn't have a controller or computer chip. It isn't responding directly to external stimuli. But, hey, you have to start somewhere and my kindergartener definitely thought our homemade wigglebot was cool.

# data[].attributes.body
The Big book of makerspace projects