What is a Makerspace?
A makerspace is a hands-on, creative learning environment where students can explore, build, and experiment using a variety of materials, tools, and technology. These spaces encourage problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. In the classroom, a makerspace can enhance subjects like math, language arts, and social studies by allowing students to apply concepts in tangible, real-world ways.
Table of Contents
Geometric Art & 3D Models (Grades K-12)
Math Escape Room Challenge (Grades 3-12)
Data Visualization with Infographics (Grades 6-12)
Story Dioramas & Stop-Motion Animation (Grades K-12)
Poetry in Motion: Magnetic Poetry & Found Art Poems (Grades K-12)
“Found” Object Writing & Collage (Grades K-12)
Historical Artifact Reconstruction (Grades K-12)
Create a Historical Newspaper (Grades K-12)
Build and Explore Historical Monuments (Grades 3-12)
Math Activities
Geometric Art & 3D Models (Grades K-12)
Why it works: Geometry and spatial reasoning come to life when students build 3D models instead of just drawing shapes on paper.
Activity:
Grades K-4: Use craft sticks, pipe cleaners, playdough, or LEGO to construct basic 2D and 3D shapes.
Grades 5-8: Introduce rulers, protractors, and compasses to build geometric art inspired by famous patterns (e.g., Islamic tile art or M.C. Escher designs).
Grades 9-12: Incorporate 3D printing to design complex structures based on real-world architectural principles.
Math Escape Room Challenge (Grades 3-12)
Why it works: Gamifies problem-solving and encourages teamwork.
Activity:
Grades 3-5: Solve simple addition, measurement, or conversion challenges to unlock clues.
Grades 6-8: Work through algebraic equations and logical puzzles to progress.
Grades 9-12: Tackle more complex mathematical reasoning, statistics, or calculus-based problems.
Enhancements: Use combination locks with numbers, UV pens to uncover hidden questions, or digital tools like Google Forms to add layers of complexity.
Data Visualization with Infographics (Grades 6-12)
Why it works: Helps students see real-world applications of data and statistics.
Activity:
Grades 6-8: Collect simple real-world data (e.g., classroom survey results, favorite colors, or daily weather patterns) and display findings through handmade bar graphs, pie charts, or poster boards.
Grades 9-12: Analyze complex datasets (e.g., sports statistics, economic trends, or historical census data) and create infographics using digital design apps like Canva or Google Charts.
Language Arts Activities
Story Dioramas & Stop-Motion Animation (Grades K-12)
Why it works: Engages students in storytelling through art and technology.
Activity:
Grades K-2: Create a 3D diorama of a favorite book scene using shoeboxes, paper cutouts, clay, and craft supplies.
Grades 3-5: Build pop-up book scenes with cardstock and folding techniques, adding short summaries or dialogues to deepen comprehension.
Grades 6-8: Use stop-motion animation apps (e.g., Stop Motion Studio) to create simple short films retelling book scenes with LEGO figures, clay characters, or felt puppets.
Grades 9-12: Adapt classic literature or poetry into stop-motion animations, writing scripts, recording voiceovers, and editing with tools like iMovie or WeVideo.
Poetry in Motion: Magnetic Poetry & Found Art Poems (Grades K-12)
Why it works: This activity makes poetry tactile and interactive, allowing students to experiment with language and expressions while incorporating visual creativity.
Activity:
Grades K-2: Students arrange pre-made magnetic words on a magnetic surface to create silly, simple poems, then illustrate their work.
Grades 3-5: Students cut out words from newspapers and magazines, arrange them into a poem, and glue them onto construction paper with artistic embellishments.
Grades 6-8: Students scan an old book page for words to form a hidden poem, black out the surrounding text, and decorate the page with drawings that reflect the poem’s theme.
Grades 9-12: Students select a poem and use typography, color, and layout to visually represent its themes and symbolism, experimenting with font styles and design elements that reflect the poem's tone and deeper meaning. They will reflect on how these visual choices enhance or deepen the symbolic messages in the poem.
“Found” Object Writing & Collage (Grades K-12)
Why it works: Encourages creativity by using non-traditional materials for creative writing, stimulating new ways to interact with literature.
Activity:
Grades K-2: Collect everyday objects and use them to inspire short, creative sentences or stories.
Grades 3-5: Read a story with the class and gather objects that represent key themes, characters, or settings from the story. Students should write a short explanation about why they chose the objects they did and how they relate to the story.
Grades 6-8: Students can choose their own literary work and should find objects that symbolize a chosen theme, setting, or characters and create a collage that visually interprets the writing through these found objects.
Grades 9-12: Use found objects to create an art piece that symbolizes a complex idea or theme from a text. Students will write an analytical reflection on how the objects and collage contribute to their understanding of the literary work.
Social Studies Activities
1. Historical Artifact Reconstruction (Grades K-12)
Why it works: Students engage with history through the process of "excavating" and reconstructing artifacts, which enhances their understanding of past cultures.
Activity:
Grades K-2: Create simple "artifacts" from clay, and then “discover” them in a sandbox or sensory bin. Students will guess what the artifact might have been used for.
Grades 3-5: Recreate an artifact (such as an ancient coin, pottery, or weapon) using air-dry clay or Paper mâché. Students will learn about its historical context.
Grades 6-8: Students use a variety of materials to recreate more complex historical artifacts (e.g., a Viking helmet, a Greek vase). They will then conduct research and present the significance of their artifact.
Grades 9-12: Reconstruct detailed and historically accurate artifacts (e.g., medieval armor, ancient scrolls) using a combination of materials like clay, metal, or 3D printing. Students will study the artifact’s function, social importance, and historical context, presenting their findings to the class.
Create a Historical Newspaper (Grades K-12)
Why it works: This activity develops skills in journalism and research while introducing students to important events in history. Students can either work alone or work in groups.
Activity:
Grades K-2: Students color printed-out coloring sheets of historical events they are learning about and write a simple sentence or headline to describe the event.
Grades 3-5: Students research an important historical event and create a newspaper with articles, pictures, and “ads” from that time period.
Grades 6-8: Students create a full-scale newspaper with multiple sections (e.g., news, opinion, entertainment) about a significant historical event. They will research primary sources to write articles, editorials, and include period-accurate visuals.
Grades 9-12: Produce a high-quality, in-depth historical newspaper from a specific era (e.g., World War I, the Civil Rights Movement). Students will incorporate complex articles, editorial pieces, interviews, and advertisements, focusing on accuracy and historical context.
Build and Explore Historical Monuments (Grades 3-12)
Why it works: This activity transforms history from abstract concepts into tangible, interactive experiences, allowing students to develop a deeper connection to historical events, cultural symbols, and architectural achievements.
Activity:
Grades 3-5: Students choose a famous monument (e.g., Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Memorial) and construct a simple model using LEGOs, clay, or cardboard. They focus on basic historical facts, such as who built it and why it is important.
Grades 6-8: Students conduct deeper research on their monument’s history, purpose, and construction methods. They build detailed models with a focus on scale, materials, and historical impact.
Grades 9-12: Students analyze the cultural, political, and historical significance of their chosen monument. They may use 3D printing or digital modeling tools (Tinkercad, SketchUp) to design precise models and discuss preservation, controversy, or reinterpretation in modern society.
