Looking for ways to ramp up the STEM learning in your library or classroom? Take a closer look at K’NEX. K’NEX are a popular and versatile building tool for all age groups, and they allow students to quickly design, prototype and iterate. Get students’ gears turning with three quick K’NEX challenges from Diana Rendina.
The real-world design challenge Diana Rendina gave her students resulted in a maker cart that is now manufactured by Custom Educational Furnishings (CEF) and offered through Demco. Read on to learn how you can offer your students authentic design challenges in your makerspace.
If you’re familiar with Sphero®, you know that this tiny, highly engaging robot will have kids coding and creating in no time. Get students started with four popular design challenges from Diana Rendina.
Learn how you can promote creativity, teamwork and experimentation by creating a STEM club for middle-schoolers. Amanda Bressler helps you face down your fear of not being the expert, walks you through program setup and gives you a simple challenge to get kids started.
Holding a Maker Fest in your school or library is a great way to showcase all the wonderful learning taking place in your makerspace. Diana Rendina walks you through the details, gives you ideas for stations, and helps you make sure your own Maker Fest will be successful.
Ready to get kids excited about coding? Library Journal Maker Hero Alisha Wilson shares how she draws a crowd with her Coding for a Cookie event with three key steps. You’ll gain a host of coding resources, learn about setting up stations and get tips on advertising your event.
After using their geometry skills to create string art, Winnetka fourth-graders supersized their projects using the hands-on makerspace tool Rigamajig. Learn how they created a giant-sized protractor and took their string art experience outdoors to apply engineering, math and art concepts.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 68 children. You can use your makerspace not only to bring awareness to ASD, but also to engage children of all abilities. To celebrate Autism Awareness Month in April, Gina Seymour provides you with five maker activities and tips on how to offer programming that’s both inclusive and fun year-round.
What happens when you create an Innovation Lab at your library where people can explore, learn new technology and share their knowledge? Everybody wants in! Learn how Chad Mairn from the Seminole Community Library designed a Maker Boot Camp just for kids to connect them to coding, robotics, circuitry and more.
In this first installment of the Demco Master Maker blog series, expert Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, shares his background, talks about the importance of makerspaces in schools, gives a preview of the topics he’ll be addressing in future posts, and invites you to join the conversation during the monthly #DemcoMakerChat on Thursday nights.
Libraries are safe spaces, known for finding ways to welcome everyone, and makerspaces within libraries should be no different. Award-winning library media specialist Gina Seymour provides tips and resources for how to welcome and accommodate all users in your makerspace.
Need to add a little art to your STEAM makerspace? Looking for a way to motivate summer reading program participants? Love collaborative art pieces? Read what librarians shared about how they are using StickTogether mosaic posters for all this and more and steal some ideas for your own library!
According to teacher-librarian Angela Rosheim, “Just having students make will not automatically create deep learning — you need to have sound pedagogy to go along with it.” In this blog Angela shares how she integrates making into her curriculum, along with a fun lesson plan that combines research with design thinking.
Adding a STEAM component to a literacy assignment can encourage students to think more deeply about what they are reading and writing. Library Journal’s Maker Hero School Librarian of the Year Alisha Wilson shares three ways you can collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate robotics, circuitry and coding into English class.
Media specialist and author Diana Rendina discusses the benefits of providing guided instruction through maker workshops and shares tips and ideas you can put into practice right away.
Diana Rendina details 3 engaging makerspace projects that fit right in with the 2017 Teen Read Week (Oct. 8–14) theme: “Unleash Your Story.” Students will be eager to tell their stories with these creative activities that combine literacy and making.
Find ways to promote compassionate making with makerspace projects that connect students to their school, the community, the world and the environment.
Not a tech wizard? Try these 3 low-tech makerspace projects from Diana Rendina and see learning through making come to life in your library!
Looking for the next new tech tool to add to your makerspace? See how School Librarian of the Year Todd Burleson is using drones to engage students and teach coding in his classroom.
Teen Tech Week is March 5-11 and master maker Diana Rendina has got you covered. Diana shares 5 makerspace projects that will inspire teens to become change agents in their communities while practicing the design process.
See how Holly Storck-Post, a youth services librarian at the Madison Public Library (WI), has found ways to take her LEGO programming to the next level.
Children’s Librarian Holly Storck-Post brings STEAM, making and literature together with four preschool programs for preschoolers — happy making!
Looking for ways to take STEM programming to the next level? Check out MeeperBOTS! These mobile-app-controlled motorized BOTS bring LEGOs® to life. Plus get a tried-and-true program that’s sure to capture kids’ interest.
Amy Koester, The Show Me Librarian, shares 8 exciting STEAM activities to help you celebrate Space Week (Oct. 4–10) in your library!
Looking for ways to use the littleBits Synth Kit? Director Mary Glendening shows you how to emulate one of the most popular littleBits programs held at CreateSpace@MFL, located in the Middletown Free Library. Learn the step-by-step directions for running the program at your own library and encouraging kids and teens to invent music with littleBits.
Quicksand, black holes and tsunamis — oh my! Combine attention-grabbing topics with engaging STEM activities and books, and draw in even the most reluctant readers.
The Maker Movement has hit the library! Watch this webinar and learn how to ensure patrons can pursue open-ended maker projects and enjoy playing to learn.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Colleen Graves discusses design thinking and making and provides project ideas to get started tinkering with littleBits™ in your library and creating a community of makers!
Even the most reluctant readers are drawn in by the excitement of extreme sports! Discover STEM project ideas that will kick-start kids’ enthusiasm and test their engineering skills.
On the hunt for makerspace ideas? Bring on the arts! The library is the perfect place to give students valuable creation experiences and an artistic outlet.
Incorporating visual art-making into your kids book club or school library program is a flexible and fun new way to connect to literature. Discover the Book to Art Club!
Have you been wanting to add a STEAM program to your library’s list of events but think it might be too expensive or too difficult to plan? Think again! In this blog post, Terry Ehle shares the inspiration you need to get started.
