Group items tagged

"This curriculum has been designed by the Maker Jawn team and is based on activities that have worked well at our program sites. Most of the curriculum aims to introduce skills that participants can go on to use for self-directed projects. "

"McPherson Square Library, a site that launched Maker programming just last month, held a Fall Festival this past weekend. Maker Jawn was invited to attend and host an activity table. Gavin and I went, ready for some animation with a set of iPads and a big box of Play Doh. We decided to do stop motion animation because the event was projected to have hundreds of attendees and from experience we know that this activity is usually a crowd-pleaser, and one that doesn't require a lot of consumable supplies. Because the theme of the Festival was food and nutrition related, Gavin brought a recent plaster cast of his teeth, which proceeded to eat all different kinds of Play Doh creations."

"At the Kensington Library making a learning environment that is accessible, friendly, and interactive has been the most effective way of reaching the most "difficult" children. When school is over and children flock to the library, the last thing they want is to sit still and be told what to do. For some, art activities and creativity come naturally but for others beginning a project is just another task to do in a day full of instruction. I think it is important to provide these children with a space where learning is just part of the environment. On of our first additions to the Kensington's Maker space was an interactive velcro wall where children design, build, and re-build a marble slide made from cardboard paper towel rolls and plastic bottles. Children often enter the Maker Space and start tinkering with the wall with out even thinking about it.  A wall of tools has also helped to inspire projects. The visibility of the tools can be a great motivation for a child to learn to hammer, use an electric drill, or a needle and thread."