# data[].attributes.body
A few of my colleagues and I have been talking about starting a Makerspace - and we all have different strengths. We have artistic ability, coding & robotics experience and a desire to see kids run with their curiosity and get creative in designing, experimenting, tinkering and making.
The first step is to establish a "Maker Committee". We will likely start with a club format - perhaps offering weekly lunch time "taste-test" samples of activities, and then start an after-school club to go deeper. Here, on this padlet, are 10 great activities we can begin to explore for the first few months of making, and hopefully inspire our school on further.

# data[].attributes.body
My goals as an educator: to promote creativity and curiosity in my learners.  This article from The Journal outlines what neuroscience can teach us about creativity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ISTE 2018 Coverage

What Neuroscience Teaches Us About Fostering Creativity

Technology is changing how students' brains are wired, setting expectations for faster, more interactive learning, said neuroscientist and best-selling author David Eagleman. And the most important thing that schools should be teaching students is "cognitive flexibility," or the ability to be creative and put ideas together in new and innovative ways.

Eagleman spoke to a packed audience of educators and school administrators during the opening general session of the 2018 ISTE conference in Chicago.

As a neuroscientist, he has studied how the human brain is constantly rewiring itself, a concept known as brain plasticity. He said the brains of today's students are changing because they are growing up in a digital world. Rather than resisting this change, educators need to embrace it and teach students as they are accustomed to learning outside of school.

"The digital generation carries out tasks differently," he noted. "Kids need interactive, multisensory learning. If you're giving a boring lecture at the chalkboard, they're going to tune out. The onus is on educators to meet them halfway."

This means educators must change the kinds of assignments they give. Don't just ask questions that students can Google the answers to, he said; instead, ask open-ended questions that force students to dig deeper and think creatively about their responses. For instance, instead of asking: "What is a sphere of influence?" educators might ask "How does a sphere of influence form? Give me some examples."

This is important because it allows students to use technology to construct new knowledge, which is how they expect to learn. But it also prepares them more effectively for their future, where the jobs they occupy might not have been invented yet.

"We're moving from an information economy to a creativity economy, where what matters is innovation and doing things that computers can't do as well," Eagleman said. "That's good news, because as humans, this is our single biggest advantage over technology. It's what we do well."

To succeed in this creativity economy, being innovative, flexible thinkers is the most important skill that students can learn, he said. Yet, creative thinking is hard to cultivate, because of something that Eagleman called the "problem of the path of least resistance."

"The unconscious brain is ruthlessly efficient," he explained. "It is looking for the easiest path [to a solution]. You have to shake it off of that path."

Here are five ways that educators can help students overcome this challenge and foster creative thinking:

1. Bend, break, blend. Have students practice bending (or changing) existing objects or ideas to suit a different purpose, breaking them into smaller components and blending or remixing them to create new objects or ideas, Eagleman suggested.

2. Challenge students to go deeper. Get students to think beyond their initial response. For instance, Edison would challenge his employees to come back to him with seven possible solutions to a problem.

3. Develop a culture of exploration. "Failures are the portal to discovery," Eagleman said. He urged educators to create a culture "where it's OK to get a wrong answer." Educators can learn from the world of gaming, he explained, where the stakes are low and students can explore freely without consequences.

4. Build creative spaces. "Your environment matters," Eagleman said, describing how the brains of small mammals have been shown to have more neural pathways when their cages contain more objects to play with. "What are you doing in your classroom to engage and inspire? Nothing is meant to be glued down. The key is to change things up. This is what maintains brain plasticity."

5. Maintain the arts in schools. Whenever schools are running out of money, Eagleman said, the first items they cut are typically programs such as art and music. "We need to make sure every student has creativity as part of their curriculum," he urged.

About the Author

Dennis Pierce is a freelance writer with 17 years of experience covering education and technology. He can be reached at denniswpierce@gmail.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
fostering creativity in 21st century learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Neuroscience Teaches Us About Fostering Creativity -- THE Journal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology is changing how students' brains are wired, setting expectations for faster, more interactive learning. And the most important thing that schools should be teaching students is 'cognitive flexibility,' or the ability to be creative and put ideas together in new and innovative ways.

# data[].attributes.body
I am really inspired by John Spencer's ideas and he has a great website here: http://www.spencerauthor.com/

# data[].attributes.body
This TED talk explains the importance of creating and making

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The maker methodology: Katie Rast at TEDxAmericasFinestCity

# data[].attributes.body
This "Cult of Pedagogy" article has some great pointers on starting a makerspace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Listen to my interview with John Spencer (transcript):
Sponsored by Peergrade and Microsoft Class Notebook

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. When you make a purchase through these links, Cult of Pedagogy gets a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.

For as long as I've been aware of makerspaces, I haven't quite understood them. I have seen plenty of photos on social media, with the towers made of marshmallows and toothpicks. I've walked through exhibit halls at conferences where the coding and robotics displays cause me to stop, stare, and try to look like I have some idea of what I'm looking at. I even stumbled into a Twitter chat one night where a group of school librarians was throwing around some pretty great ideas about building makerspaces in their libraries.

And yet, I still feel like I don't get it. I have this picture in my mind of kids kind of messing around with Legos instead of, I don't know, reading primary source materials that would shed light on some period in history. Or taping together some cardboard strips to make them into a car. Or attaching some kind of wire to a banana. I don't know...the more traditional, stodgy, control-freak part of me says it looks like a bunch of hooey.

But some of the smartest people I know are pretty into makerspaces, and the part of me that's not a stodgy control freak, the part that knows there's a lot about tradition we need to question, that part of me wants to find out once and for all what's so great about makerspaces.

So I asked one of those smart people, my friend John Spencer, who was a classroom teacher for a number of years and currently teaches at the university level. He's also the co-author, with A.J. Juliani, of the books Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student, and Empower: What Happens When Students Own their Learning.

Spencer teaches online courses about Project-Based Learning, Design Thinking, and Makerspaces, and I really trust his thinking, so I knew he would be a great person to help me demystify the makerspace: What it is, why we would want one, and how to get started.

What Is a Makerspace?

Spencer's definition of a makerspace is much broader than my mental image of Legos and cardboard.

"I see a makerspace as simply a space designed and dedicated to hands-on creativity," he explains, "and the key thing there is they're actually making something. Creativity is sometimes idea generation, it's sometimes problem-solving. But (in) a makerspace, you're actually going to create some kind of product. Now it could be a digital product. It could be a physical product. But there is an actual product, so you're not going to, say, design an event or a service project. That's not what a makerspace is for, so it's a space devoted to and differentiated and set up for making."

That space would look different in different classrooms, and even within one classroom, the materials might look different throughout the year, depending on the type of learning that's happening at the time. Sometimes it might include things like cardboard and duct tape, and other times it might consist of items like laptops, microphones, and green screens. A makerspace can take the form of a mobile cart that can be shared between classrooms, a set of stations that students rotate between, or a variety of materials and equipment that live in various parts of the classroom, accessible to students when the need arises.

Why Would Teachers Want a Makerspace in Their Classrooms?

Once we understand that a makerspace isn't limited to certain materials, it gets easier to see how a makerspace could be incorporated into any classroom. Spencer explains that the value isn't subject-specific; it's more about engagement and mindset.

"We know that students learn at a deeper level and they retain more when they're engaged in creative thinking connected to the subject, right?" he says. "So to begin with, just within the content area, (making is) going to allow for deeper learning."

And more making in the classroom leads to a maker mindset, which Spencer believes is essential to living a full and successful life in the 21st century.

"There was a time when you could follow the formula: Work hard at school, go to college, and climb a corporate ladder. But because of the complex global economy, because of the creative economy, the information economy, our students are going to have to navigate a maze. The ladder is now a maze. And because it's a maze, what do they need in order to navigate that? They need to be able to engage in iterative thinking, creative thinking, critical thinking, they need to know how to pivot, how to change, how to revise, how to persevere. They need to solve complex problems. They need to think divergently. All of those are involved in that maker mindset. And so if you can embed that maker mindset inside of the curriculum, and you tap into the standards that you're teaching, then they're able to develop that maker mindset. The space is just the platform that facilitates it."

A Few Maker Project Examples

To fully understand what making can look like in action, let's look at some sample maker projects and how each one can align with academic standards.

Documentary Film
To get a deeper understanding of a particular time period or event, and to gain an appreciation for the challenges faced by historians, students could create their own documentary films. This would incorporate social studies and English language arts standards, as students would need to write a script for the documentary.

Design the Ultimate Roller Coaster
Using a marble, duct tape, cardboard, and popsicle sticks, students must design a working roller coaster. This gets them working with the science concepts of force and motion. Taken one step further, students could also create a website for their roller coaster that requires them to write ad copy and combine text and images to attract visitors, which would draw on English language arts standards.

The Tiny House Project
In this project, students design a tiny house, which gives them practice with the math concepts of volume, surface area, and proportional reasoning. More importantly, it also helps them understand math in a real-world context.

To see more examples, visit Spencer's maker challenge playlist on his YouTube channel.

Managing a Makerspace

Teaching with a makerspace presents some management issues: Popsicle sticks and styrofoam can make a mess, projects are more likely to take place over several days, and the active work has the potential to be noisy.

Before sharing his management tips, Spencer is quick to point out that classroom management can actually be easier when teachers add more making to their instruction. "(When a task is) meaningful to students, and they're engaged in creative thinking, and they're solving problems, and it's hands-on, then in those moments, there's not an incentive to rebel and act crazy."

To prevent some of the problems that can come with active making in the classroom, Spencer offers these suggestions:

Talk with students ahead of time about the expectations for the task or the makerspace. Rather than wait for problems to happen, establish procedures and guidelines ahead of time. "I need a certain level of calmness and quiet built into where I am, otherwise I personally get anxious," Spencer says. "It feels unsafe to me, even if it's not unsafe. If that's true of me, that's probably true of certain students. So for that reason, I always have some rules and procedures."

Co-construct guidelines and procedures with students. If you can get student input about how to handle breakable materials, for example, or what to do when class time is almost over but you're not finished with your work, you'll end up with a set of rules that everyone is invested in.

Build in moments of silence. To keep his own classroom focused, Spencer would provide opportunities for quiet reflection right in the middle of class. "I would have some times where I would say, 'Hey guys, we're moving into silent mode for two minutes so that you can process and think about what you're working on,' or 'I'm going to give you a prompt. You don't have to write it down, but I just want you to think through this question about what you're learning,' and that would allow them to kind of recenter. It was just two minutes of silence; enough to kind of restore certain students who were getting tired of the noise, and then they could come back in."

Starting Your Own Makerspace

Instead of trying to set up a whole makerspace, Spencer recommends that teachers who are new to making should begin with a single maker project, then gather the materials necessary for that project.

"Decide what you're going to have kids create that's hands-on. You might do multiple maker projects in different locations, or you might have the entire class do one thing. Either option works."

Once you've done a few projects, you'll start to get a better idea of what kinds of materials work well in your classroom, keeping in mind that a true makerspace is constantly evolving.

If you want something more general to get started, Spencer offers these ideas for a first-time makerspace: "I would have some kind of physical prototyping items, like duct tape, cardboard, packing tape, that type of stuff. I would have circuitry, because it's so inexpensive and easy to do...like one or two Snap Circuits. I would have a couple computers devoted specifically to using something like Hour of Code or Scratch, and then I would probably have a podcasting area and a green screen area."

The Makerspace Master Course

Teachers who are ready to get serious about adding a makerspace to their classroom should check out Spencer's Makerspace Master Course. This online course covers everything from the pedagogical foundations of makerspaces to how to set up and manage a makerspace in your classroom.

If you're not quite ready for the full course, but want to learn more from John Spencer, check out this free, on-demand webinar:

You can find John Spencer on his website at spencerauthor.com, on Twitter at @spencerideas, or on his YouTube channel at spencervideos.com.

Come back for more.
Join my mailing list and get weekly tips, tools, and inspiration that will make your teaching more effective and fun. You'll get access to our members-only library of free downloads, including 20 Ways to Cut Your Grading Time in Half, the e-booklet that has helped thousands of teachers save time on grading. Over 50,000 teachers have already joined-come on in!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Listen to my interview with John Spencer (transcript): Sponsored by Peergrade and Microsoft Class Notebook This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. When you make a purchase through these links, Cult of Pedagogy gets a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.

# data[].attributes.body
CD, balloon, glue & bottle pop lid

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This simple science activity is a fun way to explore how things work. See how fast you can make your balloon hovercraft go!

# data[].attributes.body
Coin-cell battery (3V) CR2032

Copper tape (1/4″) with conductive adhesive

LED – 5mm, 10mm, surface mount or similiar

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
FREE PDF Download - (5) Paper Circuit Project Templates

A paper circuit is a low-voltage electronic circuit that is created on paper or cardboard using conductive copper tape, LEDs and a power source such as a coin-cell battery. Creating paper circuits is a good way to teach the basics of electricity and how circuits function. In addition to being educational, they can also be a fun makerspace project that helps to bring artwork and paper craft to life. By adding sensors, buzzers and motors to your circuit, you can also add another dimension of interactivity. These simple projects are great for all ages and all makerspaces.

A paper circuit smiley for Halloween! Got inspired from the new book by @Makerspaces_com #papercircuits pic.twitter.com/366y0PxCGN

- cincoutprabu (@cincoutprabu) October 10, 2016

There are a lot of creative and imaginative ways to create a paper circuit. These examples from Jie Qi at Chibitronics are truly amazing. Take a look at her Flickr page too see even more paper circuit creations.

Creating paper circuits is a natural fit for the classroom or library. Here's a good example:

Making paper circuits to "illuminate" a concept in our course or classroom. We are #makers !!#MAETy1 pic.twitter.com/GiSF50RgCJ

- Katie Dahmer (@k_dahmer) June 23, 2016

More Friday morning fun with paper circuits! #tinkeringmooc Planning this for Maker Club @ROMS_Learning pic.twitter.com/pOEsnn76hZ

- Jill Gardy Hill (@jmgardyhill) August 5, 2016

This video shows how Milan Dahal used paper circuits to create animation.

Paper cricket #paperCircuits pic.twitter.com/4zhsZCJNs3

- सुरेश (@SuRayShG) September 11, 2016

FREE PDF Download - (5) Paper Circuit Project Templates

There are a wide variety of paper circuit projects you can do. Shown below are most of the materials that you will need in order to complete these different projects. Later in this post, you will learn how to create a simple circuit and will only need copper tape, an LED and a coin cell battery.

Coin-cell battery (3V) CR2032

Copper tape (1/4″) with conductive adhesive

LED - 5mm, 10mm, surface mount or similiar

DC Hobby motor - 130 size

Buzzer - mechanical or piezo

LilyPad button board or slide switch

Paper clip or Binder clip

Clear tape

Double-sided foam tape

Card stock paper - 65-110 lb

Printer/copy paper

Brass brads

Circuit Stickers from Chibitronics (optional)

Circuit Scribe - conductive ink pen (optional)

Electric Paint from Bare Conductive (optional)

The great thing about paper circuits is the ability to create a circuit without the need for soldering. Having said that, you can use a soldering iron for specific reasons which will be explained later. Another optional tool is a paper trimmer which is great for when you are creating paper crafts that light up. Using a paper trimmer is also a safer option then scissors if you are doing this project with younger kids.

WARNINGS - Copper tape can have very sharp edges and is able to cut skin like a paper cut so be careful. Also, this project is low voltage 3v DC and is NOT intended to be used with your wall outlet or 120v. There are small items used in this project such as LEDs and can be a choking hazard for children under 3 years. Most importantly, have fun !

Introduction

Creating a paper circuit is a very fun and easy way to learn about circuits while being creative at the same time. In this tutorial, we are going to make a "simple circuit" which is the most basic of all circuits. To begin with, check out this introductory video from Chibitronics that gives a quick overview about working with copper tape.

Step 1 - Print Out The Template

Before we start you will need to download our Simple Circuit template and print it out on standard printer paper. Card stock is not needed for this particular paper circuit project.

You can also right-click the image below and choose "Save Link As" to save the printable template to your computer.

Step 2 - Apply Copper Tape to Trace Lines

Apply copper tape to all trace lines as marked in brown on the template. Smooth the copper down with your finger. Try to maintain a continuous strip of copper tape versus cutting it at the corners. Fold copper tape at the corners by bending it at a 45′ angle in the opposite direction of where you are going. Then fold it back at a 180′ angle and continue applying to the trace line.

Make sure to leave a gap in the copper tape so the LED can be mounted properly.

Cut the remaining copper tape once you reach the designated battery area.

Step 3 - Score and Fold

Score and then fold the corner line. A scoring tool is very helpful when making folds during a paper circuit project.

Step 4 - Mount LED to Copper Trace

Mount the LED to the copper trace using clear tape. To do this, bend both legs of the LED at a 90′ angle and then tape legs securely to the copper. Make sure that the long leg of the LED goes to the positive (+) side of the copper trace.

The image below from shows how to tell which leg of an LED is positive. If the legs have been cut, you can also determine which side is negative by looking for the flat side of the LED casing.

Step 5 - Attach Battery To Circuit

Last step is to place the coin-cell battery on the copper trace. In this example, make sure the battery (-) is facing down on the copper. The corner flap which is (+) should then be able to contact the battery (+) when folded.

At this point you can secure the corner using a paper clip or binder clip.

FREE PDF Download - (5) Paper Circuit Project Templates

Optional - you can create a paper battery holder which securely holds your coin-cell battery. Chibitronics has a wonderful step-by-step tutorial on how to create one of these.

To create a paper circuit you don't always need to use copper tape. Another good option is to use conductive ink ( Circuit Scribe) or electric paint ( Bare Conductive) to help form the circuit. There are pros and cons however to using these products over copper tape. For example, if you choose to use electric paint you will need to wait a few minutes for the product to dry. According to the manufacturer, "the conductivity of Electric Paint increases as it dries, therefore it is important to wait until it is completely dry to test your projects". But the good thing about using paint and ink is that you are able to make very unique shapes and patterns that you wouldn't have been able to with copper tape.

Below is a great example of a paper circuit project involving conductive ink or electric paint. Make a greeting card that lights up !

#Makerspace project - make an electric greeting card w/ conductive paint via @instructables https://t.co/dtg4fQZxxk pic.twitter.com/4bpeHqqhn1

- Makerspaces.com (@Makerspaces_com) April 23, 2016

A great alternative to the standard LED are Circuit Stickers by Chibitronics. A circuit sticker is a peel-and-stick LED for creating circuits and craft projects. They can be stuck to almost any surface such as paper, plastic, fabric etc. They work with copper tape, conductive ink or even electric paint. Chibitronics also has a line of sensor and effects stickers in addition to the LED sticker. These add-ons can make your project blink, pulse or be responsive to sound.

When using these, make sure to stick the narrow side of the sticker to the negative side of the copper trace. The larger side of the circuit sticker is positive. One great advantage of circuit stickers is their low power consumption. You can light up more circuit stickers per (1) 3v battery than you could using standard LEDs.

Is your LED not lighting? Most of the time it's a very simple fix. Here is a list of the common ways to make your paper circuit functional.

1. Make sure that the LONG leg of your LED is secured to the positive (+) side of the circuit because this is easy to mix up.

2. Sometimes the LED legs are just not contacting the copper tape well enough. Rub the clear tape that secures the LED to ensure there is a solid connection with the copper tape below.

3. Inspect the battery. Make sure the negative (-) of the battery is touching the negative side of the copper tape and the same goes with the positive. Furthermore make sure there is a solid connection between the battery and copper. Sometimes you need to tape the battery down using clear tape.

4. It's highly recommended that you try to maintain a continuous strip of copper foil versus cutting it. But sometimes you just need to make a cut. Make sure you push down and rub the two pieces of copper that are taped together. There needs to be a solid connection.

5. Ensure all copper tape has been smoothed down on the paper with as few wrinkles as possible.

6. Is there a short in the circuit? A short can happen when the positive and negative copper tape make contact with each other. Check around the battery area and the LED area which are common places for this to happen.

7. If you're using a LilyPad switch make sure it is taped down firmly to the copper tape below it. Also, there needs to be a gap in the copper directly below the switch as outlined on the template.

8. Finally, are your parts even functional? At times you might just have a bad battery or bad LED. One easy way to test both of these items is to place the LED directly onto the battery. Make sure the LONG leg is touching the positive side of the battery.

LEDs are used in a ton of #makerspace projects. Here's a simple way to test one. Remember long leg is positive. https://t.co/41ZOiIW9Gb

- Makerspaces.com (@Makerspaces_com) September 15, 2016

Now that you've seen how to create the basic circuit, we're going to step it up a notch and add a switch to control the LED.

Step 1 - Print Circuit Template

Download our Simple Circuit w/ Switch template and print it out on standard printer paper. Card stock is not needed for this particular paper circuit project.

You can also right-click the image below and choose "Save Link As" to save the printable template to your computer.

Step 2 - Apply Copper Tape to Trace Lines

Apply the copper tape to all brown trace lines on the template. Try to maintain a continuous strip of copper tape versus cutting it at the corners. Fold copper tape at the corners by bending it at a 45′ angle in the opposite direction of where you are going. Then fold it back at a 180′ angle and continue applying to the trace line. Make sure to leave a gap in the copper tape so the LED can be mounted properly. Cut the remaining copper tape once you reach the designated battery area.

Step 3 - Score and Fold

Score and then fold the corner line. A scoring tool is very helpful when making folds during a paper circuit project.

Step 4 - Mount LED to Copper Trace

Mount the LED to the copper trace using clear tape. To do this, bend both legs of the LED at a 90′ angle and then tape legs securely to the copper. Make sure that long leg of the LED goes to the positive (+) side of the copper trace.

Step 5 - Attach Battery To Circuit

The next step is to place the coin-cell battery on the copper trace. In this example, make sure the battery (-) is facing down on the copper. The corner flap which is (+) should then be able to contact the battery (+) when folded. Finally, add a paperclip or binder clip to secure the corner.

Step 6 - Attach LilyPad Switch To Circuit

Finally, the LilyPad switch needs to be taped on top of the copper tape. Make sure there is a gap in the copper below the switch as outlined on the template. We love the LilyPad switch because of it's small form factor but there are other ways to create a switch. We outline this alternative method below.

These LilyPad button and slide switches are available at .

If you don't have a LilyPad switch you can always create a switch with a flap of paper with copper on it. Tape the paper switch over the gap with the copper facing down. Press down on the switch to close the circuit and turn on the LED.

We've put together a collection of 5 beautifully designed paper circuit templates that have step-by-step instructions on them. We hope you like these projects and we would love to see what you design. Follow us on Twitter @Makerspaces_com and show us your paper circuits. Have fun and keep learning !

FREE PDF Download - (5) Paper Circuit Project Templates

The internet is filled with great information on paper circuits and here are some of our favorite resources.
Paper Circuits - The Tinkering Studio
Paper Circuits with Copper Tape - High-Low Tech

The Great Big Guide to Paper Circuits - Sparkfun

Paper Circuit Tutorials - Chibitronics

Getting Started with Circuit Stickers - Jie Qi

Plan and Build Your Circuit - Adafruit

Simple Paper Circuit - Make

has a really great learning section on their site which covers almost every maker topic out there. If you want to dig deeper into circuits and electricity, check out their video series called Circuit Playground.

Follow @Makerspaces_com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Paper Circuits For Makerspaces - Makerspaces.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
5 Free Paper Circuit Templates - Paper circuits are great makerspace projects for teaching electricity & circuits. Paper Circuit Tutorial PDF

# data[].attributes.body
Making a steam boat, a paddle boat and a balloon powered boat.
*These boats require access to woodworking  room to cut boat shapes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Introduction: 3 Simple STEM Boats

STEM projects are typically a combination of two or more core elements: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics. STEAM projects are similar to STEM projects but also include ART in the process. Most all STEM projects, including the ones highlighted here, can easily be turned into STEAM projects by using some simple craftsmanship to add design or detailed elements to a project.

In this Instructable I will highlight three different boats that are powered by various methods. If you are interested in just making one of these boats skip to the appropriate step. The boats are made in order of difficulty with the first boat (putt putt boat) being the most difficult and time consuming and the balloon boat being the easiest and quickest to make.
STEP 1: Putt Putt Boat
STEP 2: Paddle Boat STEP 3: Balloon Powered Boat (two versions)
Projects that involve water are typically a huge hit with kids of all ages. When completed these boats can be tested in a kiddie pool, a small pond, a bathtub, or a large sink.
STEM Projects = Learning Made Fun!

Add Tip Ask Question Download

Share

Recommendations

Stick It! Contest

Backpack Challenge

Creative Misuse Contest

Step 1: Putt Putt Boat

The first STEM boat in this series is a Putt Putt Boat. This will be the most time consuming of the three boats and best suited for teens. To set a putt putt boat in motion, a simple steam engine is created by coiling a copper tube, filling it with water, and heating the water in the tube. Steam is created in the coil which causes suction up through one side of the coil and pushes the water out through the other side. The forcing of the water coming out the tube putts the boat along. It's very fun little boat!
MATERIALS
You will need the following items and tools to create a putt putt boat:

Coiling Mechanism (instructions follow)

6x3x1 inch balsa wood block

Ruler

18 inch piece of 1/4 inch diameter copper tube

Scissors

Utility Knife

Pencil

Small Screwdriver

Wood Carving Tools

1/4 inch drill bit

Awl

One sheet white printer paper - or scrap piece of paper

Copper Tube Cutter

Tape (I used electrical tape but any will do)

Tea Light Candle

Fine Grit Sandpaper

2-3 Tablespoons sugar, salt, or sand

1/3 inch diameter Steel Tube (not pictured)

Fire Starter (not pictured)

BUILDING THE COILING MECHANISM

Preparation for making putt putt boats with students will require constructing a coiling mechanism. This is a very simple tool that will help make coils that don't collapse or flatten during bending. I recommend doing this first and having it ready before beginning the boats. The process of coiling only takes a few minutes so you only need to make one of these that you could use over and over with multiple students.

You will need the following tools:

Drill

Drill bit (slightly smaller than screw size)

Screwdriver bit

12 inch piece of 2x4

3 inch screw

1 1/2 inch screw

1 inch diameter dowel - approximately 2 inches long

1. Mark a spot where you want your dowel to be positioned on the 2x4. I suggest centering the hole toward one end. This will allow you to hold the other end when it comes time to coil the copper tube. Drill a pilot hole in the wood and the dowel.

2. While holding the dowel in place over the pilot hole in the 2x4, screw the 3 inch screw through the wood into the dowel making sure it is tightly secured.

3. Measure and mark a spot that is slightly larger that the diameter of the copper tube. In this case 1/4 inch. Screw the 1 1/2 inch screw into place.
CUTTING, SANDING, & SHAPING
1. If you can find 6x3x1 inch balsa wood blocks great! I could only find 12x3x1 inch pieces so cutting was necessary! Measure a six inch mark on each side of the balsa and draw a straight line with a ruler. Cut the balsa wood using a utility knife. Make several passes as to not crush the balsa wood cells. Some will inevitably crush, but several shallow passes will get the best result.

2. Make another mark in the middle at one end of the block. Measure down 1 1/4 inches on each sides and draw lines to match up the middle and the side marks. We are making a pointed end for the front of the boat.

3. Using the utility knife and a ruler cut on the lines using the same method as described above.

4. Sand the cut sides and edges with fine grit sandpaper to smooth them out. This is a good point to choose whether or not to shape the boat or round the bottom edge. If this step is omitted it won't affect how the boat functions, but will add an artistic element (making it a STEAM project). The boats could also be painted or decorated in some manner.
COILING COPPER & MAKING HOLES
1. In order to coil the copper tubes without them bending, collapsing, or flattening entirely, they will need to be filled with sugar, salt, or sand (I used sugar). Make a simple funnel out of a piece of printer paper or scrap paper. The small hole in the funnel will need to fit inside the end of the copper tube, so the opening will need to be less that 1/4 inch. Tape the paper to keep it in place. (Alternately, you can use a small plastic funnel if you have access to one or can find one.)

2. Using tape, close off one end of the copper tube so the sugar won't spill out. Fill the tube by adding small amounts of sugar to the funnel. This takes some patience as the sugar tends to get stuck in the funnel. Add in very small amounts for the fastest result.

3. Once the tube is completely full, gently tap the taped end on the table to help settle the sugar. Add more if necessary and tape the end closed.

4. With a pencil, draw a mark on the copper tube about 6 inches from one end. Insert the copper tube into the steel tube. Line up the mark (on the copper tube) with the screw on the coiling mechanism making sure the copper tube is between the dowel and the screw. Gently start bending the copper tube around the dowel by only torquing the steel tube. With every small bend move the steel tube farther out to make room for more bending. Take your time with this. The sugar inside the tube will help it from collapsing but if the copper is bent too fast it can still flatten.

5. Keep coiling until you have gone two full rotations. The copper will be crossed at this point. Gently bend the long ends so they are as parallel as possible. The closer the two long ends are to each other the better. This will help your boat from going in circles when the steam engine is in working order. Remove the tape from both ends and dump out as much sugar as possible. Then run water through the tube to force out any extra sugar.

6. Using a tube cutter, cut the ends of the copper tube so they are even. (A tube cutter is a simple device that costs around $8.) This is done by placing the copper tube in the cutter and adjusting the cutting wheel to score the copper tube when twisted. Keep adjusting the wheel so it is tight against the copper tube and twist the tube again. Repeat this process until the copper is fully cut. If you know of an alternative to a tube cutter please let me know in the comments section.

7. Once the copper is coiled and shaped appropriately use it to make small indents at the back end of the boat.

8. Using an awl poke holes (at an angle) through the top of the boat and out the back edge of the boat. The balsa wood is soft enough that this isn't difficult.

9. Once the holes are in place they will need to be widened. You can use a screw driver or a 1/4 inch drill bit. (If the kids making this project are old enough you could do this entire process with a drill. I wanted to keep power tools out of the equation for the age group (7-10 year olds) I was working with.) Twist the drill bit back and forth through the awl holes to widen them. Again, the wood is soft enough this doesn't take much effort. If the drill bits are sharp enough this still poses a cutting hazard. Inform the students to use care with a drill bit as to not cut themselves.

10. Insert the copper tube into the holes. They should fit snugly.
CARVING AND LIGHTING
1. Once the copper tubes are in place set a tea light candle on the top of the boat lining up the edge of copper coil with the wick of the candle. Draw a line on the wood around the candle base. Remove the copper tube from the boat.

2. Using carving tools cut away a shallow layer of wood where the candle will sit. Again, caution should be used with carving tools. Let students know they should always cut AWAY from themselves (and their hands). Balsa is so soft this takes minimal effort.

3. Place the copper tube back into the boat. Turn upside down and fill the copper tube under running water. Place the boat in a pool, bathtub, sink, etc. and set the candle in place. Light the candle and watch your boat putt putt away! It takes a few minutes for the water to heat enough to create steam so be patient! If you find that the boat still isn't moving, check to make sure the candle flame is heating both coils evenly. If they are not heated evenly the boat might have problems going.

TIP: We tried these in a pond and couldn't keep the candle lit with even a slight breeze. I recommend testing these in a wind free environment!

Add Tip Ask Question Download

Step 2: Paddle Boat

Simply designed STEM paddle boats are powered by winding a paddle with a rubber band. They work very well. This project is much less complicated (and time consuming) than the putt putt boat. This boat is especially fun for kids to compete to see whose boat can go the farthest. Tip: Sometimes it's not who winds their rubber band the most!
MATERIALS
You will need the following materials and tools to create a paddle boat:

8.5x3x1 inch balsa wood block

Ruler

Utility Knife

Pencil

Craft Stick

1 1/2 inch rubber band

Small flat head screwdriver (not pictured)

CUTTING THE BOAT SHAPE
1. Using a pencil and a ruler mark off a section that is 6 inches in length and cut the wood using a utility knife and a ruler. Make shallow passes through the wood. Don't try to cut through the entire thickness in the first pass. You won't end up with clean cuts. :(

2. Make a mark in the middle at one end of the block. Measure down 1 1/4 inches on each sides and draw lines to match up the middle and the side marks. We are making a pointed end for the front of the boat.

3. Using the utility knife and a ruler cut on the lines using the same method as described above.

4. On the back end of the boat draw a guide line that is 2 inches in length and 1 1/2 inches wide. This will leave 3/4 inches on each side of the boat. Cut this part out of the boat using a utility blade. For the two longer cuts you will be cutting with the grain of the balsa wood. Go slow as to now split the wood where you don't want it split! This is the point where this boat could become a STEAM project instead of a STEM project. Have students paint the boat or add a decorative sail.
MAKING & INSERTING THE SECURITY PEGS
1. Using a utility knife, cut two, one-inch pieces from a craft stick.

2. Mark two lines on the back to ends of the boat and make holes using a screwdriver. Press the craft sticks through the holes until 1/4 inch is sticking out the bottom and 1/2 inch is visible on the top of the boat.
MAKING THE PADDLE
1. Using the remaining balsa wood, mark and cut two, 1 1/4 inch by 3 inch pieces.

2. Next, you will need to make cuts in the wood so they will be able to fit together to make an 'x' shape. This will be the paddle. Find the middle point of the wood and mark 1/8 inch on each side of it (equaling a 1/4 inch mark). Measure in 1 1/8 inches from each point and cut that section of wood out using a utility blade.

3. Fit the pieces together. They should fit snugly. If all cuts were made correctly the paddle will fit perfectly (with a small gap all around the edges) inside the cut section of the boat.
ASSEMBLING THE BOAT & SAILING
1. Place the rubber band around the pegs. Stretch the rubber band open far enough to get half the the paddle inside it. You're finished!

3. Wind the paddle away from the boat to make it go forward and vice versa. Hold the paddle in place with wound rubber band until it's placed in the water. Let go and watch the boat sail away!

Add Tip Ask Question Download

Step 3: Balloon Boat

This is by far the simplest and quickest of the three boats highlighted in this series. It also has a dramatic outcome when sailing. When the balloon is inflated and air is released through the small opening of the tube or straw it sets the boat in motion by forcing it along. Kids absolutely love this one!

I will make two boats using different materials. Choose which one is age appropriate for the students being taught, keeping in mind that the second version is appropriate for a younger student. It will also be the cheaper option. Something to think about if you have a strict budget!
MATERIALS
You will need the following materials to make a balloon powered boat:
For the balsa wood version:

6x3x1 inch Balsa Wood Block

7-inch Balloon

Utility Knife

Ruler

Pencil

1/4-inch Drill Bit or Screw Driver

4-inch Piece Copper Tube (1/4 inch diameter)

Small Rubber Band

Coiling Mechanism (please refer to Step 1 for a tutorial on how to make this tool)

For the foam version:

1 Sheet Craft Foam - 1/4 inch thick

Scissors

7-inch Balloon

Utility Knife

Ruler

Pencil

1/4-inch Drill Bit or Screw Driver

4-inch Piece Copper Tube (1/4 inch diameter)

Small Rubber Band

VERSION 1: BALLOON POWERED BALSA WOOD BOAT
1. If your balsa wood isn't already cut to the correct size, you will need to cut a 6 inch length. Using a pencil and a ruler mark off a section that is 6 inches in length and cut the wood using a utility knife and a ruler. Make shallow passes through the wood. Don't try to cut through the entire thickness in the first pass. Take your time and make several passes to get the cleanest cuts.

2. Make a mark in the middle at one end of the block. Measure down 1 1/4 inches on each sides and draw lines to match up the middle and the side marks. We are making a pointed end for the front of the boat.

3. Using the utility knife and a ruler cut on the lines using the same method as described above.

4. Mark a center point on the back end of the boat two-inches in. Using a 1/4 inch drill bit make a hole by twisting the drill bit back and forth repeatedly. If the students are of old enough age to use power tools feel free to let them drill this with a power drill! The balsa wood is soft enough that twisting a drill bit is fast work and doesn't take much effort. Drill bits are sharp so advise your students to use caution as to not cut their fingers! (Easily turn this boat into a STEAM project by painting, designing, or decorating the boat.

5. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch diameter copper tube to a 4-inch length using a tube cutter. Using the coiling tool, gently bend the copper tube. If you read through the putt putt boat tutorial you will remember we filled the tube with sugar before bending. With a piece this small it's possible to slowly bend the copper tube without it collapsing. Just take your time.

6. Place a 7-inch balloon over one end of the copper tube and secure it with a rubber band. You will want to make sure the rubber band is tight enough that no air can escape between the balloon and the copper tube.

7. Insert the copper tube into the hole of the boat.

8. Blow air into the balloon from the open end of the copper tube. Once the balloon is inflated hold your finger over the end to trap the air. Place the boat in water and remove your finger. Watch the boat sail away!
VERSION 2: BALLOON POWERED FOAM BOAT
This is a much less expensive version using simple materials and tools. This is an appropriate STEM project for young students ages 5-7.

1. If your foam isn't already cut to the correct size, you will need to cut a 6 x 3 inch rectangle. Using a pencil and a ruler mark off a section that is 6 x 3 inches and cut the foam using scissors. A utility blade could also be used with older children.

2. Make a mark in the middle at one end of the block. Measure down 1 1/4 inches on each sides and draw lines to match up the middle and the side marks. We are making a pointed end for the front of the boat.

3. Using scissors cut on the lines.

4. Mark a center point on the back end of the boat two-inches in. Using a standard paper punch, punch a hole through the foam. (Easily turn this boat into a STEAM project by designing, or decorating the boat in an artistic manner. Colored foam pieces would be a great option.)

5. Using scissors, cut a length of bendy straw that is about 4 inches making sure the bendy part is in the center.

6. Place a 7-inch balloon over one end of the straw and secure it with a rubber band. You will want to make sure the rubber band is tight enough that no air can escape between the balloon and the straw.

7. Insert the straw into the hole of the boat and bend the underneath part parallel to the boat.

8. Blow air into the balloon from the open end of the straw. Once the balloon is inflated hold your finger over the end to trap the air. Place the boat in water and remove your finger. Watch the boat sail away!

Add Tip Ask Question Download

Step 4: Thanks for Following Along!

Thank you for reading through how to make 3 Simple STEM Boats. I hope you enjoyed it and even tried making one!

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, I'd love to hear it. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below. :)

Add Tip Ask Question Download

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
STEM projects are typically a combination of two or more core elements: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics. STEAM projects are similar to STEM projects but also include ART in the process. Most all STEM projects, including the ones highlighted here, can easily be turned into STEAM projects by using some simple craftsmanship to add design or detailed elements to a project.

# data[].attributes.body
Using a AAA battery, elastic band, small 3Volt motor, cup and markers students can design & build their own artistic robot!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
My kids and I love finding fun STEM building challenges for kids, and one project we've wanted to try for ages is making a DIY scribble bot. A scribble bot is a little robot that colors on its own. Most scribble bots operate off of a vibrating motor that helps the robot skip across a piece of paper. If the robot's "legs" are art supplies, the robot will paint/draw/whatever on its own.
* This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure.
You will be surprised to see how easy it is to make a working robot and your kids creativity will go nuts with thinking of fun variations for this basic scrub brush robot design.

DIY Scribble Bot: STEM Building Challenge for Kids

What you'll need for the DIY scribble bot:

After we made our scrub brush robot, we knew we could easily make a DIY scribble bot. The building principle is the same. The motor is powered by the battery pack. Forcing the motor to operate off kilter will make it vibrate, which is how the robot moves.

First, connect your battery pack wires to the motor. Plug in the batteries to ensure the motor works properly. Don't build the robot while the motor is running. Use scotch tape or electrical tape to hold the wires in place.

Glue your markers inside the cup, making sure it can stand on its own without falling and that it can write while moving about.

Glue a mini-clothespin to the motor's rotor so it will spin around and cause the motor to vibrate.

Glue or tape your motor and battery pack to the outside of the cup.

.

Cover a large tray with white paper and set the DIY scribble bot on it

Plug in the batteries and watch it go crazy! Soon, your whole paper will be covered in marks.

What Kids Learn with the DIY Scribble Bot

Scribble bots are a fun way to bring a little art into electrical engineering lessons. Kids may be a little intimated by working with motors and wires, but this project helps them see it doesn't have to be hard and can be loads of fun! My kids had tons of fun learning about motors, DC power, electrical engineering, and the basic design of a robot.

Looking for more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) projects and inspiration?

Can't get enough Valentine's Day and STEAM? We've got you covered. With the super affordable, super sweet STEAM Kids Valentine's Day!

During our launch sale, you 14+ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) activities that will wow the boredom right out of kids for just $4.99 ($7.99 after 2/1/17).

Inside you'll find entertaining and educational projects like:

- Super Sized Crystal Hearts
- Valentine's Day Speakers
- Magnetic Attraction
- Rocket Valentines
- LED Roses
- And more!

Perfect for children ages 4-10, the step-by-step activities are easy to follow and most use supplies you have already on hand.

So gather up your curious kids and get your Valentine's Day STEAM on!

Or maybe you need something for all year-round, not just Valentine's Day. Then pick up the first STEAM Kids book. It has a Year's Worth of Hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math Activities for Kids. Plus a lot more.... And, you get a free STEAM Kids Valentine's Day EBook with every purchase of the original STEAM Kids book.

For More Winter STEM Activities, Check Out:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DIY Scribble Bot STEM Building Challenge for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My kids and I love finding fun STEM building challenges for kids, and one project we've wanted to try for ages is making a DIY scribble bot. A scribble bot is a little robot that colors on its own. Most scribble bots operate off of a vibrating motor that helps the robot skip across a piece of paper.

# data[].attributes.headline
Maker idea: Catapults from recycled materials

# data[].attributes.subject
Maker idea: Catapults from recycled materials

# data[].attributes.body
There are a NUMBER of materials that could be used to create catapults!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Catapult Projectiles for Kids

Crumpled paper balls

Marshmallows

Craft Pom-poms

Sponge "bombs" or sponge pieces - wet or dry

Cotton balls

Ping pon balls

Duct tape or masking tape balls

Stuffed animals!

Hacky sacks or small soft/squishy play balls

More Catapult Resources for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 EASY CATAPULTS TO MAKE WITH KIDS - Kids Activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Catapult Projectiles for Kids Crumpled paper balls Marshmallows Craft Pom-poms Sponge "bombs" or sponge pieces - wet or dry Cotton balls Ping pon balls Duct tape or masking tape balls Stuffed animals! Hacky sacks or small soft/squishy play balls More Catapult Resources for Kids

# data[].attributes.body
GIFs are fun to add to messages... why not make our own? As SD43 partners with Microsoft, these instructions use MS Paint and an app.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This walks you through how to create an animated GIF image file that can be used in websites, as avatar's, as icons, etc. You'll be using Microsoft Paint to create each frame of the animation, and an application called Unfreez ( found here) to animate them together.

This example walks you through how to make an animated signature.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Create Animated GIF Image Files with MS Paint & Unfreez

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This walks you through how to create an animated GIF image file that can be used in websites, as avatar's, as icons, etc. You'll be using Microsoft Paint to create each frame of the animation, and an application called Unfreez (found here) to animate them together.

# data[].attributes.body
Allow the students to tinker with micro:bits to try some different craft projects

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coding & Craft Bonus Projects with Alice and the BBC micro:bit

# data[].attributes.body
Using discarded books, exacto knives, glue, sharpies and a lot of imagination, students create an art piece.

# data[].attributes.body
Students are provided with the following resources to create a creature out of cardboard

Electric cardboard cutters or Xacto knives

Several hot glue guns and lots of glue

Scissors

Packing tape

Acrylic paint and paintbrushes

Tinfoil

Plastic wrap

Rubber bands

Googly eyes

# data[].attributes.body
Using beads and thread, students can create their name. Students can learn about binary as they create their own projects. Other ideas: explore Braille & Morse Code. What can students create using these alphabets?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Lesson Overview

Binary is extremely important to the computer world. The majority of computers today store all sorts of information in binary form. This lesson helps to demonstrate how it is possible to take something that we know and translate it into a series of ons and offs.

Lesson Objectives

Students will:

Encode letters into binary

Decode binary back to letters

Relate the idea of storing initials on a bracelet to the idea of storing information in a computer

Materials, Resources and Prep

For the Student

For the Teacher

Getting Started (15 min)

1) Review

This is a great time to review the last lesson that you went through with your class. We suggest you alternate between asking questions of the whole class and having students talk about their answers in small groups.

Here are some questions that you can ask in review:

What did we do last time?

What do you wish we had had a chance to do?

Did you think of any questions after the lesson that you want to ask?

What was your favorite part of the last lesson?

Finishing the review by asking about the students' favorite things helps to leave a positive impression of the previous exercise, increasing excitement for the activity that you are about to introduce.

2) Vocabulary

This lesson has one new and important word:

Binary - Say it with me: Bi-nare-ee
A way of representing information using only two options

3) Off and On

If you've written a short message on the board in binary, call the students' attention to it and ask if anyone knows what it is or what it means.
Put the message aside and move on to prepping for the activity.

You can start by asking the class if they have ever seen inside a computer.

What's in there?

This is a good place to actually show them the inside of a computer (or pictures of the inside of a computer).

Wires carry information through the machine in the form of electricity.

The two options that a computer uses with respect to this electrical information are "off" and "on."
When computers represent information using only two options, it's called "Binary."

That theme of two options doesn't stop when the information gets to its destination.

Computers also store information using binary.

Binary isn't always off and on.

Hard Disk Drives store information using magnetic positive and magnetic negative.

DVDs store information as either reflective or non-reflective.

How do you suppose we can convert the things we store in a computer into binary?

Let's start with letters.

Use the Binary Decoder Key to show how a computer might represent capital letters.

This is a good time to mention that each spot where you have a binary option is called a "binary digit" or "bit" for short.

Ask if anyone knows what a grouping of eight bits is called (it's a byte.)

Fun fact: A grouping of four bits is called a nibble.

Go over a few examples of converting letters into binary, then back.

Afterward, write an encoded letter and give the class a few seconds to figure out what it is.

When the class can figure out your encoded letters on their own, you can move on to the activity.

Activity: (20 min)

You know your classroom best. As the teacher, decide if students should do this individually or if students should work in pairs or small groups.

You do not need to cover the whole of binary, including counting and converting numbers back and forth from decimal. This lesson is intended to be a fun introduction to how computers store information, not a frustrating lesson in bases.

Directions:

1. Find the first letter of your first name in the Binary Decoder Key.

2. Fill in the squares of the provided bracelet to match the pattern of the squares next to the letter that you selected.

3. Cut the bracelet out.

4. Tape the bracelet around your wrist to wear it!

5. Share your bracelet with your classmates to see if they can figure out your letter.

If your class has extra budget for materials, try doing this exercise using thread (or pipe cleaners) and beads to create the binary bracelets instead of pen and paper. You can provide any combination of two colors in beads to the students, but black and white tend to be easiest, given the way that the key is done.

After the activity, revisit the message that was on the board and see if your class can decypher it using what they've learned.

Wrap-up (5 min)

5) Flash Chat: What did we learn?

What else do you think is represented as binary inside of a computer?

How else might you represent binary instead of boxes that are filled or not filled?

What was your favorite part about that activity?

Assessment (15 min)

Hand out the assessment worksheet and allow students to complete the activity independently after the instructions have been well explained.

This should feel familiar, thanks to the previous activities.

Extended Learning

Use these activities to enhance student learning. They can be used as outside of class activities or other enrichment.

Binary Images

There are several great resources on the web for taking this activity to the next level.

If your students are interested in how images (or even music) can be represented as binary, you can find more details in Thinkersmith's Binary Baubles.

Connections and Background Information

ISTE Standards (formerly NETS)

1.a - Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.

1.c - Use models and simulation to explore complex systems and issues.

2.d - Contribute to project teams to solve problems.

4.b - Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.

6.a - Understand and use technology systems.

6.d - Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

CT.L1:3-03. Understand how to arrange information into useful order without using a computer.

CT.L1:6-03. Demonstrate how a string of bits can be used to represent alphanumeric information.

CT.L1:3-05. Demonstrate how 0s and 1s can be used to represent information.

CT.L2-07. Represent data in a variety of ways: text, sounds, pictures, numbers.

CT.L2-08. Use visual representations of problem states, structures, and data.

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices

K-2-PS3-2. Use tools and materials provided to design and build a device that solves a specific problem or a solution to a specific problem.

K-2-ETS1-1 - Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

Common Core Mathematical Practices

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

4. Model with mathematics.

6. Attend to precision.

7. Look for and make use of structure.

8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Common Core Language Arts Standards

SL.1.1 - Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups

SL.1.2 - Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

L.1.6 - Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships.

SL.2.1 - Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

SL.2.2 - Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

L.2.6 - Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe.

SL.3.1 - Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

SL.3.3 - Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.

L.3.6 - Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate conversational, general academic, and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Binary is extremely important to the computer world. The majority of computers today store all sorts of information in binary form. This lesson helps to demonstrate how it is possible to take something that we know and translate it into a series of ons and offs.

# data[].attributes.body
...for the 10 maker ideas on this padlet

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideas on how to run the Makerspace as an after-school club

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideas on how to run the Makerspace as an after-school club

# data[].attributes.body
From Renovated Learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When I first started up my makerspace at Stewart, I knew that getting students in there after school would be the ideal time to really dive deep into projects and develop a community of makers. During those first six months, my school didn't have afterschool clubs but was piloting during school clubs with 6th graders, so we had a small but mighty K'nex Club where we had tons of fun. This gave me a chance to experiment with what running a club was like, and it gave me a lot of ideas for how an afterschool club could work. The next school year, my school started supporting afterschool clubs. We had a small program with about ten students. Being a magnet school, our students come from all over the county, and it can be difficult to get students to stay after-school.

This year, our STEM Booster Club supported starting several after-school STEAM clubs, including art, video game design, robotics, space and our Makers Club. Our principal was even able to get funding to pay the teachers for staying an extra hour and a half once a week. We've had WAY more students participating this year and we've been having tons of fun. As our program has grown, I've been learning what works and what doesn't, and I'd love to share that with you here. I think that starting an afterschool Makers Club is a fantastic way to promote a culture of making at your school, especially if you've been getting pushback from teachers and administration who don't want to lose class time.

Set routines, norms & procedures

Without some structure early on, an afterschool maker club can quickly turn into unorganized chaos. Through a lot of trial and error, I found ways to set routines, norms and procedures that helped us to have more structure

Routines

Where to put your stuff: My students all come in with backpacks. At first, they would just drop them wherever, and we were all constantly stepping over each other's stuff. I quickly started a routine where everyone put their backpack in front of the checkout desk. It took some training, but evenutally they got it.

Clean-up: I haven't perfected a clean-up routine with my students, but I'm working on it. I'm thinking about having a clean-up theme song (maybe Eye of the Tiger?) and setting a routine with students where they know that when that song comes on, they have to stop what they're doing and start cleaning.

Norms

Setting norms with your students from the beginning is very important, as it will set the tone for everything that you do. Some of ours include:

Don't mess with other people's projects

Respect the ideas of others

Hands/feet/objects to yourself

Don't throw stuff

Don't interrupt the speaker (during presentations)

Ask permission before taking a photo

Procedures

Students need to know some things from the beginning. Procedures you might want to develop for your group can answer such questions as:

What materials are we allowed to use? How do we access these materials?

Where are projects stored inbetween meetings?

What if I want to use something that someone else has?

What do I do if something breaks?

Balance guided projects with free days

If you want yours students to get creative, you need to find a way to balance design challenges with free days. I love using design challenges to help my students get focused by giving them a specific theme to work on (ie. build something that can hold your phone to make a video, build something that Sphero can pull around the library, create a building out of cardboard). Challenges help students to focus. Free days are fun in moderation, as they allow students to try out things that they are interested in and explore new tools. But too many free days can often be overwhelming - too many choices, students not being sure what to work on. If I have too many free days in a row, I see my students starting to gravitate towards playing games on their phones, being destructive, etc. I love free, open exploration, and I think it plays a huge role in allowing students to explore new ideas and pursue their interests in Makerspaces. But for clubs, I find that students really benefit from being given guidelines and then making something within those guidelines. Balanced with free days or blocks of free time so that they don't feel too restricted. It's like Austin Kleon says: " Limitations mean freedom." I'll be writing more in the coming weeks about how this works in our space.

Build in a reflection piece

This is something that I'm still working on, but I think it's super-important and takes making beyond the "messing around" phase. Find a way to have students reflect on what they've created and document it. This will be different for different schools. If you have 1:1 iPads, students could take pictures and write up reflections in Evernote. You could set up student accounts in Edublogs and have students blog about their projects. Or you could go low-tech with composition books. I recently created a design process worksheet that I've started using with my students. They write a few brief sentences or draw some sketches for each step of the design process. I'm planning on having them keep these in folders, and maybe later they can use the worksheets to create deeper reflections.

Create opportunities to share out work

Letting students share about their work is an extremely important part of the process and really helps to motivate them. Designate a sharing day or time when everyone gets to talk with the group about their projects. Set up a Skype or Google Hangout with another school and have your students share their projects with them (hello joint design challenges!). Plan a school-wide Maker Fair where students can showcase projects they've created. Utilize social media outlets like Twitter, Vine and Instagram to get students' projects out into the world.

Build a community

Help your students to feel like they're a part of a community. Come up with a name for your club together. Design t-shirts. If your school uses something like Edmodo or Edsby, create a group for your students to share ideas. If you're able, go on field trips to local makerspaces, or bring in local makers to talk to your students. Help them to see that they're a part of the greater maker community.
Do you run an after-school Makers Club at your school? What are some best practices you've picked up along the way?
Makers Club Related Posts:

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 Run an AWESOME After-school Makers Club

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When I first started up my makerspace at Stewart, I knew that getting students in there after school would be the ideal time to really dive deep into projects and develop a community of makers.

# data[].attributes.body
Inspired by the work of Su Blackwell
Make a 3D sculpture or illustration using the pages of discarded books

# data[].attributes.body
Inspired by Michael Hall's "Perfect Square" (2011)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Perfect Square - Friends of the MN Orchestra Kinder Konzerts

# data[].attributes.body
Elly MacKay makes fun scenes as she creates books - playing with paper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Elly MacKay talks about her new picture book, If You Hold a Seed. See how Elly creates her unique illustrations by making miniature worlds and then photographing them in her special paper theater. Elly explains how her universal stories are a visual journey capturing the magic of childhood.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I know cardboard attachments seems like a boring subject, but let me explain. There are two materials we use in STEM class every day. Cardboard and masking tape.

Mind you, the cardboard can be card stock or brown cardboard or even foam board. The masking tape is a heavy-duty, very sticky brand that works well. We prefer thin tape.

So, you would have to think that we (I mean, myself and the students) have mastered these two materials. We should be experts by now, right? Well, a little. Let's see if we can share some tips with you about cardboard attaching!

Did you notice all those really interesting connections in the picture above?

On the left (red arrow) you can see a group struggling to get those tubes to stand upright. The way they are using the tape is the problem. On the right (yellow arrow) this team is using a flange made of tape. This is one way to solve that taping problem. But, now take a look at the next photo.

So, okay, are there more of these tricks?

Actually, yes. Now, I cannot take credit for inventing these. I found several different posters on Pinterest and then made my own. (The complete poster is at the end of this post.)

Let's start with these four!

Are you ready for 4 more cardboard attaching techniques?

The Poster

Have fun making your version of this very useful poster! You might also enjoy these posts with useful tips!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Using Cardboard in STEM (Attachment Techniques) - Teachers are Terrific

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I know cardboard attachments seems like a boring subject, but let me explain. There are two materials we use in STEM class every day. Cardboard and masking tape. Mind you, the cardboard can be card stock or brown cardboard or even foam board. The masking tape is a heavy-duty, very sticky brand that works well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Step 1: Making Color Mash-Ups

Light is one heavy subject.

You're told that the primary colors in painting are red, yellow, and blue, but then you learn that the cones in our eyes only sense red, green, and blue. All light together makes white light, but all color paint together make brown and black. What gives?

The science of colored light is incredible, and there's so much to learn. I was fascinated by a particular project called "Three Little Pigments" at the Exploratorium, where you can explore pigments and light color with printing on transparencies. They have a great explanation of the science in this project. In it, you have four separate transparent sheets, and when you combine them and hold them up to a light, it becomes a recognizable image. Watching the colors combine is absolutely magical. And optically scientific.

In the project, you can only use their pre-made landscape, but I wanted to show how you can turn any image in to this project to make a wonderful investigation have a locally meaningful picture behind it. And now, here's how!

What: Making Color Mash-Ups

Time: ~30 minutes to make

Cost: ~$2, depending on print size

Concepts: light, color, perception, pigments, wavelength

Materials:

Transparencies (laser or ink depending on your printer)

Color Printer

Tools:
Photoshop or GMP (free version)

Let us alight!

Step 2: Separate the Colors

Let's start by separating out our document to the CMYK colors.

1. Open the document in Photoshop, and go to Image > Mode > CMYK color.

2. Go to the layers panel, and see each one in black and white form.

3. On the Channels box, click on options and select "Split Channels."

A science explainer:

While light contains a huge myriad of colors, we just sense three. Compare that to the mantis shrimp, which can see sixteen! We see red, green, and blue light, and when we combine those we get the secondary colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. These are the colors that our printers use as well.

When we have a part of the picture with cyan, it blocks out red light. When we have magenta, it blocks out green light. For yellow, it blocks out blue light. The "K" in CMYK is simply black, which is used for adding dark detail without having to saturate with each color.

Step 3: Colorize for Printing

Each color is now in its own document, but they appear in black and white. Wherever the part of the picture that has a heavy amount of that type of ink is represented as black. Let's change them to their colors.

In photoshop:

1. Starting with the "Magneta" document, go to Image > Mode > Duotone.

2. Click on the color box, and go to the right and set C = 0, M = 100, Y = 0, K = 0.

3. Repeat the process for the other three pigments, except for each make that color value = 100 and the rest = 0.

4. Save each as a separate PDF.

Now we have four documents each with the pigment and its appropriate color. You can notice some predictable things like there is not much yellow pigment in the sky, because that would block out blue light. Look around. What surprises you?

Step 4: Printing Pigments!

Load up a printer with transparencies. Much sure you have the right ink vs. laser type, and print away! You'll get four versions of the same image, but with each of the pigments individually. This is what a newspaper or a screen printer does, similar to this!

Step 5: Combine Your Color Collage

Re-combine the images and hold up to white light see through them all. It's our original photo again with even a slightly neat 3D look. What happens when you take one of the pigments out? What does it change?

Try messing around with different types of image, different colors, to learn more about the way our vision and colors of light work. If you're feeling really advanced, try out the CMYK Holiday Card, too!

Have fun, see some color, and keep exploring!

Can't wait to see what you make and share!

License: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Light is one heavy subject. You're told that the primary colors in painting are red, yellow, and blue, but then you learn that the cones in our eyes only sense red, green, and blue. All light together makes white light, but all color paint together make brown and black. What gives?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Thank you for visiting Make It @ Your Library. Though this site has been
archived, the projects remain searchable, and libraries in Illinois can continue
to borrow maker kits through the Illinois State Library.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015."

What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years. Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs, are collaborative spaces where people gather to get creative with DIY projects, invent new ones, and share ideas. Since the first official makerspace convened six years ago in a library in upstate New York, libraries have remained an ideal setting for makerspace events across the country. Many offer community resources like 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies, and more. The idea of a communal creative space has only gained momentum and become increasingly popular over the years, and the makers' movement shows no signs of slowing down.

There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015. The White House even held its own inaugural Maker Faire in 2014, inspiring President Obama to declare an official National Week of Making the following year. Read on to learn more about library makerspaces and how one might benefit your community.

Articles & Blog Posts on Makerspaces

1.) Library as Makerspace
The Library as Makerspace blog, run by the Duxbury Free Library in Massachusetts, shares the experiences of its librarians in the process of transitioning from a content collection-only facility to a content creation-inspired makerspace. Bloggers share ideas for makerspace programs for children, teens, and adults, with a goal of "reimagining our role in a rapidly changing world."

2.) Renovated Learning
Curated by Diana Rendina, media specialist, teacher, and librarian at Stewart Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, this blog documents Diana's journey of starting a STEM-based makerspace at her own school's library from the ground up. Posts include lessons and reflections on her own experience as well as resources for other makerspace hosts, including a "start here" section for beginners.

3.) The Makerspace in the Library: What it Means for Your Classroom
This recent post on a blog titled "The Unquiet Mind" explores the author's first experience attending the National Writing Project Annual Meeting in 2017; this year, the NWP panel discussed growing interest in makerspaces at libraries and their implications for teachers, library staff, and the learning process as a whole.

4.) A Librarian's Guide to OER in the Maker Space
This article, written by library media specialist and author Laura Fleming, introduces librarians and educators to the open educational resources (OER) movement, and focuses on how to integrate STEM-oriented makerspaces and other disciplines into the traditional learning space.

5.) Growing Learning Communities Through School Libraries and Makerspaces-Creating, Constructing, Collaborating, Contributing
Another informative post on "The Unquiet Mind," this article served as one of the site's first comprehensive guides to makerspaces, exploring a variety of possibilities for creating a collaborative learning environment at locations across the U.S. The post accompanies a presentation about makerspaces given by the author to the Independent School Library Exchange of Southern California.

6.) Library Friday: Visiting Fayetteville Free Library
Here on INFOSPACE, the official blog of the Syracuse University iSchool, blogger and master's candidate in library and information science Kayla Del Biondo, explores one of the country's leading university makerspaces at the Fayetteville Free Library as part of her Library Friday Series.

7.) Make it Work! Starting a Makerspace in an Academic Library, Phase 1
Among many authoritative posts on ACRLog.com, a blog site exclusively by and for academic and research librarians, this post outlines a multi-phase process for creating a makerspace at the grassroots level, addressing crucial concerns for working librarians. Hannah Pope, guest author of this article, is the Emerging Technologies Librarian at Appalachian State University.

8.) Biohackerspace, DIYbio, and Libraries
Posted on the ACRL TechConnect Blog, this article explores projects at makerspaces across the country focused on developing science, technology, and engineering programs that can essentially turn any library into a makeshift biology lab.

9.) Making It in the Academic World
This post on American Libraries focuses specifically on makerspaces at university libraries in the U.S. Author Bailey Brewer makes the case that, while makerspaces are known for bringing 3D technology to the masses, the potential for a greater sense of community among college-age participants will likely carry makerspaces into the future.

10. ) It all started with a training offered by the Washington State Libraryâ€¦
Part of the "Between the Lines" series of the Washington State Library Blog, this post describes one library manager's first encounter with STEM-based makerspace programming. Her subsequent initiatives to develop ongoing maker events, especially for children, take place at Winlock Library in Timberland, WA.

11.) 4 San Francisco Projects Highlighted During the National Week of Making
This post outlines four of San Francisco's most innovative makerspace programs, celebrated during the National Week of Making in 2016 in an event co-sponsored by the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

12.) Makerspace Starter Kit
Noted blogger, international Ed Tech keynote speaker, and Google Certified Innovator Gwyneth Jones offers a starter kit to aspiring makerspace hosts through her site, The Daring Librarian. For inspiration, among many resources available on the site is the story of the makerspace at Murray Hill Middle School in Maryland, where Jones helped to launch a collaborative project space more than 18 years ago.

Maker Faire

Touted as the "greatest show and tell on earth," Maker Faire has emerged as the official international celebration of not only creativity, resourcefulness, and innovation but also a mass gathering of the maker movement at large. Each year, Maker Faire hosts multi-day flagship faires in Chicago, New York, and the Bay Area, as well as ongoing regional events, mini faires and school faires around the world. The organization is perhaps the most well-known makerspace networking resource, having established its own "Maker Shed" tools and products, a "Maker Camp" online community and a "Make" magazine for subscribers. The official Maker Faire site also offers aspiring Makers resources and support for bringing a Maker Faire to their local community, starting their own makerspace or becoming a sponsor of the maker movement.

Makerspaces Directories

1.) MakerDirectory.com
This online directory lists national and international maker events, from the Adelaide Mini Maker Faire to the World Maker Faire in New York City.

2.) Hackerspaces
This directory lists national and international events and offers resources specific to hackerspaces, enabling the tech-maker community to make connections both in-person and online.

3.) Maker Faire
Perhaps the most comprehensive of maker directories, Maker Faire offers an interactive map listing upcoming national and international maker faires, mini maker faires, and school faires; aspiring makers can also search past events by region on the site.

4.) Makerspace
This membership site requires registration to connect with other makers; once signed in, members are encouraged to exchange makerspace projects and ideas. The link above to the site's BETA login page is expected to be redirected to a new platform in 2017.

Revitalizing Community Spaces

"Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020."

One could argue that the phenomenon of makerspaces has led to a revitalization and reimagining of libraries in a digital world. As the means of circulating and accessing digital information outside of libraries continue to grow, this renaissance for the library as a place to gather, create, and collaborate has led to benefits for the host facilities just as much, if not more, than participants. Like book clubs, workshops, and other group meetings, hosting a makerspace alongside traditional offerings in a library is fast becoming the hands-on approach to learning and developing new skills. Many libraries at colleges and universities have incorporated program-specific makerspaces into their campus curriculum, bringing students together around a topic such as robotics or a particular fine art technique.

If increased support and funding for makerspaces are any indication, this trend-turned-movement is here to stay. The University of Texas in Austin is an example of a school that turned a makeshift project into a lucrative institutional endeavor by expanding its makerspace into a program called the Foundry. Hosted by the university's Fine Arts Library, the Foundry was created in 2015 through a $200,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation, which recognized the potential for cross-disciplinary research, art, and invention in a permanent makerspace on campus. Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Librarian's Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources | OEDB.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015." What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Fail Better!

Spend some time as an educator on social networks like Twitter, and you will quickly come across memes, quotes, and countless links to evidence that failure is a necessary milestone in the learning process. For all the talk of how this sometimes-painful process is vital to growth, people rarely share examples of how to facilitate room for healthy failure in the classroom. Without the necessary structures in place, students can negatively internalize failure as evidence of just another thing that they don't do well.

That feeling of inadequacy changes quickly within the walls of a makerspace. Whether students are simply building bridges with toothpicks or prototyping water purification solutions for children across the globe, the first ideation of their project isn't going to work the way they want. In fact, if it does, they're doing it wrong and it isn't rigorous enough. With this in mind, makerspaces allow educators to embed mini-lessons in these tasks that will help students begin developing the grit and metacognitive skills needed to analyze and move beyond their temporary failures.

Bridging The Gap

One of the critical mistakes that classroom teachers, librarians, and administrators can make in pitching the idea of a makerspace to the powers-that-be is not clearly articulating how a makerspace helps students with their academic growth. While tinkering alone is a valuable learning experience, most educators currently work in a system that doesn't assess students on their ability to tinker.

While it's true that most student activities in a makerspace are easily deemed "STEM-based activities," that phrasing alone won't secure funding for a dedicated space. In order for a makerspace to thrive within a school, district, or community, educators must prepare curricula so that projects built within the space are standards-aligned and link directly to the work that students are doing in their classroom. By creating curriculum-wide, project-based lessons and units that offer evidence of student literacy and growth in critical thinking as a result of makerspace learning experiences, you will find that your idea is more easily accepted.

Making Motivation

As a rule of thumb, project-based learning and school makerspaces work much better as tools to motivate students than any marble jar, point system, or promise of pizza ever could. One of the first comments from any teacher or guidance counselor who spends time inside a makerspace is how well student Y is understanding, focusing, or behaving on the project in front of him or her.

By developing recurring lessons around project-based themes, with the reward of students visiting the makerspace, teachers and counselors get a golden chance to reach the students with whom we often struggle to connect. In return, we can use this motivating factor to help these students begin budding in the areas in which we want to see them grow. Makerspace projects have the ability to help struggling students see the value of their classroom work -- why it's relevant and how it shakes out in real, tangible, ways. It's powerful stuff!

Evidence-Based Success

Students who complete maker-based projects create real-world things. In order to see a project to its completion, they often need to overcome several rigorous intellectual challenges in the process. It's a valuable tool when a teacher can point to a real-world, student-made artifact as evidence that all students, particularly struggling ones, can thrive when we instill the necessary confidence in them. It goes a long way in a student's mind when he or she hears you say, "You just built a wind turbine that actually charges a cell phone. That was way harder than this equation." It is something that they can hold onto, use for reminding themselves that they're capable, and feel proud about. When we continuously build evidence of a person's success, that person becomes successful.

By helping bring the maker movement into their school, educators can help usher in the future of education. Through planning curricula-aligned projects, school and community makerspaces can help once again to democratize education and build learning communities where all students have a chance to grow into thoughtful, confident leaders of tomorrow.

Have you seen a difference in student motivation and performance in connection with a school makerspace? Please tell us about your experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Makerspaces Lead to School and Community Successes | Edutopia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Spend some time as an educator on social networks like Twitter, and you will quickly come across memes, quotes, and countless links to evidence that failure is a necessary milestone in the learning process. For all the talk of how this sometimes-painful process is vital to growth, people rarely share examples of how to facilitate room for healthy failure in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Clideo - the platform that makes it super easy to edit all your video files, images and GIFs. And yes, free.

# data[].attributes.body
This one has a Green Screen Tool

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
VEED.IO - AI Video Editor - Fast, Online, Free

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Free AI video editor with text to video, avatars, auto-subtitles, voice translations and more. Record, edit and share your videos online with VEED.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Photopea Online Photo Editor lets you edit photos, apply effects, filters, add text, crop or resize pictures. Do Online Photo Editing in your browser for free!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Choice Board for Eight STEM Projects You Can Do With Any Newspaper (Published 2022)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Build a D.I.Y. roller coaster. Plant seeds in biodegradable pots. Create a mathematical puzzle with origami cubes. And more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Chris Gilmour is a sculptor who specializes in hyper realistic, life-size objects made solely from cardboard and glue.

Born in the UK in 1973, he studied at the University of the West of England before moving to Northern Italy in 1996. He began working with the gallery Perugi Artecontemporanea in Padua and later with Marco Rossi Gallery in Milan and Freight and Volume in New York, as well as collaborating with other galleries in America and Europe

He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout Europe and America, including the New York Museum of Arts and Design, The San Jose Museum of Art and the Zabludowicz collection in London. His work is to be found in numerous museums and private collections around the world.

In 2006 he won the prestigious Premio Cairo, a prize for young artists organized by Cairo publishing in Italy, and in 2012 he was awarded the Premio Michetti prize.

Chis is currently studying for a PhD in sustainable design at Lancaster University

Based on this reserch, in 2022 Chris Launched Vectar Sets, a company based in Manchetster (UK) making sustainable sets and scenery for FIlm and TV using paper-based materials. So far, the sets have been successfully used by ITV, BBC, Channel 4, STV and RTL, as well as for tv adverts.

see more under 'projects' or at www.vectarproject.co.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Chris Gilmour is a sculptor who specializes in hyper realistic, life-size objects made solely from cardboard and glue

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sustainability continues to be at the center of political, economic and social debates. As discussions heat up, so does the planet, and contemporary art has joined the debate through the recycled art movement. Whether they are politically motivated, or simply walking in Duchamp's footsteps, these artists create inspirational and original pieces. By working with recycled materials, these artists encourage their viewers to question the sustainability and ecological impact of the artistic process. Often favoring biodegradable media, their works are both beautiful and ephemeral. Artsper invites you to discover 10 of the best artists working with recycled materials.
1. Vik Muniz

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz is central to the recycled art movement. Discovered by an art dealer in New York in the mid-1980s, he specializes in reproducing masterpieces with recycled materials. His materials range from trash, to shredded magazines, wires, puzzle pieces and even dust. Muniz creates large-scale pieces, whose compositions require them to be digitally projected onto the ground from a height. The documentary "Waste Land" focuses on Muniz's project Jardim Gramacho in Rio de Janeiro, which took place over three years in the world's biggest wasteland.

For this project, Vik Muniz worked with "pickers" who collected waste for the artist and his recycled art projects. The pickers then assembled the pieces into sculptures, which were projected onto the floor inside a warehouse. At the end of the project, the artist sold all the photographs during an auction event, and donated the proceeds to the pickers who participated to the project.

2. Derek Gores

Floridian artist, designer and illustrator Derek Gores has become a master in the art of collage. He creates his works with shredded magazine paper, labels and other recycled materials. Gores starts by organizing his materials by color, and then creates images from them. His art, made from recycled materials, mostly depicts portraits of women or everyday life scenes inspired by the world of fashion and design. Although his works are a mosaic of various objects, they remain strikingly fluid and graceful.

3. Tim Noble and Sue Webster

British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster met in 1986, while studying fine art in Nottingham. The couple is known for their iconic "shadow sculptures," made from recycled materials and rubbish. They then illuminate these in order to cast shadows on the walls and surrounding ground. At first sight, the piece may look like a pile of rubbish. However, once the light is cast, the shadow of the piece reveals an incredibly detailed and realistic image on the wall.

4. Guerra de la Paz

The Guerra de la Paz collective is a group of Cuban artists founded by Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz. Based in Miami, they work from unconventional materials like recycled clothing, from which they create very colorful sculptures. Their pieces are often interpretations of classic artworks, and frequently convey deeply political messages. Paz's art questions modern consumer society, and the way we blindly use and discard objects that are still in good condition, such as clothes.

5. Nik Gentry

Nick Gentry is a London-based artist whose signature device is to recycle used floppy discs (the ancestor of the USB drive), on which he paints astonishingly futuristic portraits. His work is influenced by the development of consumerism, technology and cyber culture in our society. Gentry also uses used film rolls, VHS disks, and x-rays, which he skillfully integrates into his portraits.

6. Wim Delvoye

Belgian artist Wim Delvoye is famed for his transformation of used objects into spectacular artworks. For his series on tires, Delvoye carved delicate floral and organic patterns into different tires. Although the tires kept their original circular shape, the result looked like it was made from cast metal or carved wood. Delvoye also uses metal, steel caps, or even dump trucks to turn his works into precious lace-like shells.

7. Khalil Chishtee

Creating life-size sculptures out of recycled plastic bags is Pakistani artist Khalil Chishtee's specialty. For the artist, this material is a metaphor for "recycling our identity" and a way to face the obstacles in our lives. Chishtee's work also questions the idea of value in fine art, where bronze, wood or stone are more highly regarded due to their historical context.

8. Subodh Gupta

Indian artist Subodh Gupta lives and works in New Delhi, making large-scale sculptures from everyday materials. He chooses objects that are particularly significant in Indian culture, and then recycles them by adding them in his installations. Gupta's art is therefore deeply rooted in Indian culture, a culture that is rapidly changing due to globalization. The objects he uses for his work already have a story, but Gupta adds another layer of meaning when he integrates them into his pieces.

9. Ptolemy Elrington

"I come across many things which have been abandoned and find something more in them than their intrinsic worthlessness."Ptolemy Elrington is an artist based in the coastal city of Brighton, and his sculptures explore the damage caused by unsustainable resources. In using found objects from manufactured products, such as shopping trolleys or car hub caps, Erlington opens up a vital dialogue about the impact of waste on our environment.

10. Yuken Teruya

Japanese artist Yuken Teruya also explores the dangerous lengths of our rampant consumerist habits. Through his recycled art project, he transforms some of the biggest names in capitalism into mystical forests. Teruya uses the ancient Japanese art of Kirigami, a variation of origami which consists of cutting paper instead of simply folding it. His work is included in the permanent collections of some of the world's most prestigious museums including the MoMA and The Guggenheim in New York, the Charles Saatchi Collection in London and the Mori Art Museum in Japan.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Artists Working in Recycled Art - Artsper Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ecology is often the focus of political and economic debate- but also of art! Here are 10 artists creating fascinating recycled art...

# data[].attributes.body
Indigenous artist repurposing materials

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Look for the plus icon next to videos throughout the site to add them here.

Save videos to watch later, or make a selection to play back-to-back using the autoplay feature.

{{watchlist.lookupAttr('progress', video)}} / {{watchlist.lookupAttr('runtime', video)}}

Watch again

{{watchlist.lookupAttr('runtime', video);}}

Brian Jungen was born in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada in 1970. He draws from his family's ranching and hunting background, as well as his Dane-zaa heritage, when disassembling and recombining consumer goods into whimsical sculptures. Jungen transforms plastic chairs into whale skeletons, garbage bins into a giant turtle carapace, sewing tables into a basketball court, golf bags into towering totem poles, and collectible Nike Air Jordan shoes into objects resembling both the ceremonial masks of British Columbian coastal tribes and abstract modernist sculptures.

At once direct and disarming, Jungen's sculptures are entirely familiar in their material and assembly and yet still trick the eye through complex and deft illusions. He has created many works involving animals, from habitats and playgrounds for household pets, to paintings and drums utilizing stretched and tanned hides-demonstrating an interdependence between people and other species as well as between aesthetic form and function. While exquisite for their craftsmanship and graphic use of pattern and color, Jungen's works also contain subtle critiques of labor practices, global capitalism, and cultural stereotypes.

Brian Jungen attended Emily Carr College of Art + Design (BFA, 1992). Jungen's awards and residencies include the Gershon Iskowitz Prize (2010), Capp Street Project (2004), Sobey Art Award (2002), and The Banff Centre for the Arts residency (1998). Jungen has had major exhibitions at Hannover Kunstverein (2013); Bonner Kunstverein (2013); Art Gallery of Ontario (2013, 2011); Documenta (2012); Shanghai Biennial (2012); Smithsonian Institute-National Museum of the American Indian (2009); Sydney Biennale (2008); Witte de With, Rotterdam (2007); Lyon Biennial (2007); Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (2006); Tate Modern, London (2006); Vancouver Art Gallery (2006); New Museum, New York (2005); and the Vienna Secession (2003), among others. Brian Jungen lives and works in North Okanagan, BC, Canada.

Donate

Art21 is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Art21 is the world's leading source to learn directly from the artists of our time. The mission of Art21 is to educate and expand access to contemporary art through the production of documentary films, resources, and public programs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pin by Abdallah_musa_bilyameen on Idea Pins by you | Paper cutout art, Paper folding crafts, Origami paper art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jul 10, 2022 - This Pin was created by Abdallah_musa_bilyameen on Pinterest. face

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DIY CARDBOARD DRAGON HEAD [Video] [Video] | Dragon crafts, Cardboard art, Cardboard costume

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Oct 18, 2022 - How to make your own Cardboard Dagon head costume with this fun and easy downloadable template.

# data[].attributes.body
Exploring balance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Build your own Unstable Table with everyday materials! In this activity, you're invited to tinker with objects on a platform to figure out how to balance them in ways that don't always look like they should be possible. This activity supports investigations of balance and stability that center aesthetics, storytelling, and joy. Use the hashtag #ExploringBalance to share your ideas and builds with us!

Materials

☐ Platform: find something that can be used as the surface for your unstable table, like a piece of cardboard, a game board, a book, or a cutting board. Our preferred surface is 80pt chipboard because it's sturdy, thin, and doesn't bend when objects are placed on top.

☐ Base: Our favorite way to construct a base is to place a ball into a cup, yogurt container, or box to keep it steady.

☐ Objects to explore: Collect objects of different weights to explore like tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls, toys, and kitchen utensils. Tip: we prefer using objects that won't break even if they fall.

Use a Ball as a Base

Try placing a ball inside of a cup, on top of a toilet paper tube, on a spool of yarn or even on top of an upside-down saucer to keep it steady! To make your base extra sturdy, glue a paper towel or mailing tube to a piece of cardboard so that it can't fall over.

Tip: Construct a taller base to add some drama to your seesaw.

Construct Your Unstable Table

Make your own version of the Exploratorium's Unstable Table exhibit by placing your platform on top of your base. Arrange objects to see how the movement of the platform changes or to create a surprising scene.

Tip: Cut a paper towel tube into smaller sections and use them to keep materials that roll around (like marbles) in place.

Slotted Shapes

Create a set of slotted cardboard shapes with different patterns as an aesthetic invitation to explore balance and stability. We like to include extra cardboard, markers, and scissors so that learners can add their own shapes to the set and cut extra slots.

Ideas and Examples

The Unstable Table activity can support storytelling, collaboration, and creative risk-taking. You can take it outside and incorporate natural materials (even the wind!), or use it as an opportunity to look at existing materials in the space in a new way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Build your own Unstable Table (inspired by the Exploratorium exhibit with the same name!) with everyday materials.