makerspace – Teaching with Technology

21st Century Learning, Makerspace, Science

First Grade Force and Motion in the Makerspace

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Tina Coffey

Students in first grade at both Glenvar and Oak Grove used the Makerspace to build hands-on knowledge of force and motion. They rotated through six centers to investigate and understand Science SOL 1.2: The student will investigate and understand that moving objects exhibit different kinds of motion. Key concepts include a) objects may have straight, circular, and back-and-forth motions; b) objects may vibrate and produce sound; and c) pushes or pulls can change the movement of an object that moving objects exhibit different kinds of motion.

Maker Center Planning Sheet and Student Reflection

Center 1: Spinning Tops — Circular motion and elapsed time

Prompt: Make a spinning top. How long does it spin?

Center 2: Air Tube

Make something that will fly.

Center 3: Zipline – pushes and pulls/ straight and circular motion

Design a car that can carry a toy dragon across the room on a zipline. Explore ways to make the car move smoother and faster.

Center 4: Musical Instrument – Vibration

Create a musical instrument with rubber bands. Find ways to include higher and lower pitched notes on your instrument.

Center 5: Racetracks

Build a racetrack. Experiment with different types of cars, marbles, and balls. Which ones go faster? Slower? Why?

Center 6: Robots On the Move

Make Dash the Robot Move!

Cross Posted at the Learning Collaboratory.

Makerspace, Teachers Pay Teachers

Makerspace Prompt Cards

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Tina Coffey

I’ve been using prompt cards in my Makerspace for a bit now. I find that they help students, but they also help the teachers who bring the students into the Makerspace too. Even though teachers at my schools have been trained on how to use the equipment, they often need reminders…and it helps them feel like they have a way to answer student questions.

I prefer using them in Acrylic Sign Holders like these, but they are expensive. If you trim cards down a bit, they will work in the plastic 8×10 picture frames you can buy for pretty cheap. They don’t hold up as well, but if you are on a budget, they will work. Another option is to run the cards on tagboard and use sheet protectors.

This packet contains resources to create Makerspace Centers with the following materials:

LEDs and Coin Cell Batteries
Cubelets
Hot Wheel Tracks
Little Bits
Makey Makey
Spheros
Dollar Store Fans
Squishy Circiuts
old toys

Each center contains pictures, simple directions, and QR codes to scan for more info. You get them on Teachers Pay Teachers here.

21st Century Learning, Makerspace, Math, Roanoke County Schools, Science, STEM

Mouse Traps with 3rd Graders

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Tina Coffey

Mrs. Weikle’s class, with the help of Mr. Clark, visited the Makerspace for a STEM activity. They created Mouse Traps that contained at least one simple machine and one 3D shapes. Then they used Pic Collage to display their creations. Take look below!