TeachersFirst's MakerSpace
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about the MakerSpace movement and mindset. Engage your students, challenge their minds, teach cooperative learning, and more. There is no right or wrong way to do a MakerSpace. Use the tools provided to find digital options to use in your MakerSpace area.
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Makerspace for Education - Trish Roffey
Grades
K to 12tag(s): coding (73), makerspace (22), professional development (161), robotics (25)
In the Classroom
Both experienced and newbies to makerspaces should bookmark this site as an excellent resource for developing makerspaces. If new to makerspaces, consider using this site similar to a book study group with your peers. Break the site into different portions beginning with the Why Makerspace? section to learn about constructive ideology and the benefits of makerspaces. Work together to build a database of makerspace resources including professional development information and lesson ideas. Share these resources using Padlet, reviewed here. Padlet offers tools for collaborating and organizing information, use the column feature to organize resources by topics such as professional development, lesson ideas, videos, and makerspace blogs. As you use makerspaces, don't forget to share student successes and struggles as part of the learning process. Have students create a weekly or monthly podcast using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, to enhance their learning. Buzzsprout makes it easy to record podcasts in advance, then publish them on your desired time and date. Use FlipGrid, reviewed here, as a video response tool to have students modify their learning and share ideas and problem-solving methods with you and their classmates.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Babble Dabble Do - Ana Dziengel
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): design (88), engineering (134), makerspace (22), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Be sure to add this to your toolbox of ideas for teaching STEAM topics and for ideas to use in classroom makerspaces. In addition to adding this site to your favorite bookmarks, consider creating a board on Pinterest, reviewed here, of sites with ideas for STEAM projects. Share the board with your peers and collaborate on adding STEAM sites as a group. Extend learning throughout and after project activities as you include student work as part of a portfolio on Seesaw, reviewed here. Seesaw offers tools for all ages of students to create digital portfolios including written or audio reflections on work. Instead of just sharing images of student creations on your Facebook page or school web page, help students enhance their learning by creating digital books using WriteReader, reviewed here, to share online for family and friends. WriteReader is a site specially created for use with younger students to share their writing and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Coding Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): coding (73), Computational Thinking (32), critical thinking (116), design (88), problem solving (294), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Make That MakerSpace! - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (35), makerspace (22), STEM (205), twitterchatarchive (58)
In the Classroom
Find tools and resources to create or expand a makerspace! Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to makerspaces. Explore the various tools that are shared.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Microsoft MakeCode - Microsoft
Grades
K to 12tag(s): coding (73), makerspace (22), Microsoft (59), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Make use of the resources offered by Microsoft to share with your students as they learn how to code. Share project ideas with students and include materials for them to create their projects as part of makerspace activities. Have students take pictures of their creation and enhance their learning by using ThingLink, reviewed here, to add audio to describe their creative process. Add images to your class website as part of your student work gallery. Challenge students to redefine learning by using Sway, reviewed here, to create an online multimedia page including images, video, and text to describe, evaluate, and share their work with coding projects. Include project ideas from the site and set up a makerspace during open house events at your school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hacking STEM Library - Microsoft
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): angles (87), critical thinking (116), electricity (94), energy (210), light (54), makerspace (22), Microsoft (59), problem solving (294), solar energy (38)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of these free activities to include with any STEM lessons already taught. Many activities are perfect for use with Genius Hour or Makerspaces in the classroom. Ask students to share their journey in completing activities in a blog. bulb, reviewed here, offers tools for building digital portfolios and incorporating blogs. Ask students to annotate images taken of their activities with text, URL's, or videos using ThingLink, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Room Escape Maker - doctorfou.com
Grades
8 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (139), gamification (89), makerspace (22)
In the Classroom
Increase student engagement in any subject through this form of gameplay! Create games to introduce main concepts within the escape room. Ask students to create a game using the information they have learned to share with fellow students. Before creating a game, have students map out information and strategies they will include in a blog format using a tool like Edublog, reviewed here. Ask fellow students to share comments describing their problem-solving process as they try to escape the room.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kodu Game Lab - Microsoft Research
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): coding (73), game based learning (139), gamification (89), Microsoft (59)
In the Classroom
Have students work in teams to design and develop content demonstrating an understanding of lessons in any subject area. Begin sharing Kodu with your computer experts who are interested in programming. Allow them to be the leaders in sharing how to use and personalize the program. Use Kodu as part of an after-school computer club. Be sure to take advantage of the resources section of Kodu for tips and tutorials on using the program.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Makerbot - Thingiverse: Education - Makerbot Industries, LLC
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artists (78), design (88), fashion (9), makerspace (22), printables (39)
In the Classroom
Whether you are a STEM or STEAM educator or teach woods or metal shop, there is something here for everyone. Are you setting up a makerspace and want to include 3D projects? Find more than you can imagine at Thingiverse. Many lessons address Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards, too. History, math, and language arts teachers may enjoy Cryptography: Sending Secret Messages and could extend it into a cross-curricular project; look at Egyptian Hieroglyphs - Making a Cartouche, too. ELA teachers, take a look at the Book Report project to create 3D Keychains having elements of the character's personality and challenges. Art teachers be sure to check out Art Connector Set SVG Conversion Project where your students can turn their drawing into a sculpture! These are just a few of the many lesson plans and projects to look into on Thingiverse. Cut down the time it takes to discover interesting projects by allowing time in class for students to explore in categories selected by you.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Little Kids Rock - Jam Zone
Grades
K to 12tag(s): music theory (45), musical instruments (51), musical notation (39)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for differentiation in the music classroom. Allow students to choose an instrument and learn at their own pace and level. Share a link on your classroom website for students to practice at home. Take advantage of the vocal lessons to learn about songwriting. After watching videos, have students write a song to summarize a novel, share information on climate change, or sing about an event in history. You may wish to take that a bit further and challenge students to record the song using a tool such as UJAM, reviewed here, where you simply record your voice (even talking and not singing!). UJAM is free and synchronizes your voice and its speed to a variety of different background music options.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Start a School Makerspace from Scratch - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): makerspace (22), professional development (161), STEM (205), twitterchatarchive (58)
In the Classroom
If you are starting Makerspace, or need some new ideas, view this archive. Share this tool with your colleagues who are interested in Makerspace.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Robotics Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): makerspace (22), robotics (25), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Use these robotics resources during National Robotics Month (April) or any time of the year. If you are just getting started with Makerspace, and looking for some new resources, check out these sites!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Makerspaces - Andrew Miller
Grades
K to 12tag(s): crafts (39), inquiry (32), makerspace (22), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many ideas and tutorials found on this site when creating a makerspace in your classroom or school. Collaborate with peers to create different makerspaces within your classroom communities. Ask parent volunteers to help teach students about circuits and other technology used in your makerspace.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Paper Circuits for Makerspaces - Andrew Miller
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): circuits (23), crafts (39), creativity (119), electricity (94), engineering (134), makerspace (22), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Paper Circuits for MakerSpaces is perfect for use with an after-school science program or as a resource for science fair projects. Create a center throughout the school year for students to work on circuits and build skills at an individual level. If you don't feel comfortable working on this topic, find a parent volunteer to help, or partner with another classroom to work together. Need funding to buy materials? See GetEdFunding, reviewed here, to write for a small grant.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MakerBot in Education - MakerBot Industries, LLC
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (39), creativity (119), drawing (79), modeling (8), robotics (25)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for materials and information about 3D printing. Take advantage of the downloadable materials when trying to find funding for a 3D printer. Once you receive your 3D printer, find many ideas and downloads at Sketchfab, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sylvia's Super-Awesome Maker Show! - Sylvia Todd
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): engineering (134), experiments (68), makerspace (22), STEM (205), video (269)
In the Classroom
A young female teen, science, and maker ed - the perfect ingredients to get girls interested in science! Sylvia's web shows could be an excellent "back door" to creating female student interest in science! Share videos with students as part of your plan to implement maker spaces in your classroom. Use Sylvia's presentations as a model, then have students create videos demonstrating classroom projects and experiments using a tool like moovly, reviewed here, and then share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their experiments. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Musink - Musink
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creativity (119), musical notation (39)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate the art of composition while using Musink on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Share Musink with students and encourage them to create their own music. In Destination Imagination or Odyssey of the Mind, use your scores to showcase talent. In honoring multiple intelligences, highlight the students' with musical talent. While reading historical fiction novels, have students compose a song typical of that period with the commonly used instruments and style. Offer in after school clubs for music, guitar, or band.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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GameMaker Studio - YoYo Games
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): coding (73), game based learning (139), gamification (89), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Use GameMaker Studio as an interesting way to introduce coding to your class for beginners and experienced coders. Display GameMaker on your interactive whiteboard or projector as you progress through the steps to code a game, then have students create and explore on their own. After school clubs and activities can use GameMaker to learn to code. Use this tool with gifted students for a great challenge. Set up a coding activity center for interested students when they finish class work or for rainy days and snow days. Share this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Full Steam Ahead - Brunel's ss Great Britain
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1800s (47), DAT device agnostic tool (179), engineering (134), STEM (205)
In the Classroom
Share Full Steam Ahead with students as part of any STEM lesson on engineering or sink and float. After using the interactive several times, have students create a simple infographic sharing their ship-building observations using Easel.ly, reviewed here. The original ship was launched in 1843, have students compare the structure to other ships of the time or as a contrast to modern ships.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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