All About Makerspaces!
If you’ve been following the APSF for a while now, you may have seen that in 2020 we funded a grant for a “makerspace” at Apex Friendship High School providing supplies for green screen projects, basic robotics, coding, design theory, 3D printing, STEAM projects and more. We also awarded funds to Salem Middle School for a STEAM Lab, which is a makerspace-like environment with a STEAM emphasis. And just recently we funded another technology space called “Culminating Project: Recycled Robots for Our Community or the Environment” at Apex Elementary which incorporates a makerspace approach into the program. These are all fun and engaging places to learn, but what exactly is a makerspace?
A “makerspace” is a collaborative workspace for children of all ages to invent, discover, play, and solve problems. This allows them to prepare themselves for a future that will include a variety of career fields—some that may not even exist yet! Makerspace projects can be simple or complex, and they can range from on-the-fly building to detailed, step-by-step instructions. These inspirational workshops align well with APSF’s mission to promote creativity, innovation and collaboration.
But makerspaces don’t have to exist only at school—you can set one up in your own home! To get started, you have a few types of household materials to collect:
Paper: Populate your makerspace with several styles. Consider construction paper, tissue paper, cardstock paper, printer paper, stationery, scrap paper, newspaper, and even homemade paper!
Cardboard: Boxes, toilet paper and paper towel cylinders, egg cartons, and other cardboard scraps are easy to gather from around the house. Children can shape and tape it, cut it apart for new projects, or use it as a framework for delicate builds.
Textiles: Fabric scraps, felt, mesh, ribbon, yarn, and string. A simple needle and thread and glue guns are great too.
Art and craft supplies: Makerspace projects typically involve taping, painting, or building something, so consider adding paint, scotch tape, glitter pens, Mod-Podge, modeling clay, plaster of Paris, glitter glue, paintbrushes, loose glitter, and stickers to your kit.
Building tools: Legos, screwdrivers, pliers, and a few other basic construction tools come in handy. Wood scraps, wooden dowels, wire, and duct tape can be used to support handmade structures.
Tech tools: Include broken technology items like keys from old keyboards and an old cell phone case. A few kid-safe circuitry items to consider are LED string lights, conductive copper wire, and a coin-cell battery.
Have a clear workspace set up with enough room for your child to spread out their materials. An old table or even the floor works just fine. Invite friends over to participate and engage with your children to encourage collaboration among peers. Avoid over-structuring projects and allow your child to go ‘off-script’ if they choose, as the goal is to promote creativity and innovation.
Below are links to a few cool makerspace project ideas:
Remember, it’s all about feeding your child’s imagination by providing the supplies and inspiration to experiment and build. You will be amazed at how creative your child can be with some of the most basic household items!