Suggested Framework for Creating Makerspaces in the Elementary Setting
Justification for a Makerspace in your building:
Aligns with the 4Cś of 21st Century Skills: creativity, communication, critical thinking, collaboration
There is no ONE way to run a Makerspace:
Design one that works for your school, your budget, and your students!
Before you begin - ask yourself some essential questions:
Jumping in:
Implementing: Materials have arrived - now what?
Celebrate the work of your students!
Justification for a Makerspace in your building:
Aligns with the 4Cś of 21st Century Skills: creativity, communication, critical thinking, collaboration
There is no ONE way to run a Makerspace:
Design one that works for your school, your budget, and your students!
Before you begin - ask yourself some essential questions:
- Is a Makerspace a realistic addition to my school?
- Am I willing to take this on (purchasing, setting up, managing)?
- Is my principal supportive?
- Will teachers be receptive? Are there any teachers who will collaborate with me?
- Is there a volunteer pool available?
- Are there funds available? If not, where can I find funds?
- Where will supplies be stored, and how will I make them available to my students?
Jumping in:
- Assess curricular connections.
- Assess student population re: interests and needs.
- Determine location: Dedicated space? Mobile cart? Tubs to check-out to classroom teachers? Exploration stations in the library space or an available classroom?
- Determine funding sources: present to PTO, extra building budget funds, book fair profits, DonorsChoose, other possible grant opportunities.
- Set a budget.
- Create a wish list of materials.
- Determine materials that can be donated or found secondhand.
- Determine types of materials: Low tech? High tech? Mixture?
- What can I manage with my schedule and available supervision? What materials am I comfortable managing on startup?
- Determine how Makerspaces will fit into the school day; the model chosen for your building will determine the materials you will need to purchase.
- Determine themes that will be used: robotics, crafts, building, etc.
Implementing: Materials have arrived - now what?
- Organize your materials based on your makerspace model.
- Create introductory student lessons to showcase materials and the concepts around using Makerspaces.
- Presentations to staff--show them materials and discuss philosophy behind Makerspaces.
- Make a schedule or signup document for use of materials.
- Create expectations for use of materials and post them.
- Possible expectations:
- Clean up after yourself.
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!
- Create task/activity/challenge cards.
- Dive in and get started….have fun!
Celebrate the work of your students!
- How can you record and share student achievements?
- Take videos and pictures - share with teachers, parents, donors, and the community.
- Share with classes so students can showcase their thinking and creativity.
- Collaborate with other Makerspaces at other schools.
- Print out pictures of student creations and hang them in your Makerspace - create a bulletin board or display space for student work.