Makerspace:
The makerspace is a work-in-progress, but over time, we have been bringing in more supplies: cardboard, beads, yarn, wires, tubes, paints, etc. This week, our Guide did a lot of makerspace organizing in advance of our open house and the children will continue to explore and use the area more and more.
Our goal is to use it as a free space to create art and models in two and three-dimensions, and as a project room for Quests. Our intention is to design the makerspace such that it 1) facilitates projects in a way that they remain learner-driven (i.e. our heroes don’t need adult help to see or access materials); and 2) deepens engagement with the projects (i.e. is stocked with compelling materials and supplies related to our Quests).
As we continue to invest in the makerspace, we have tapped into the advice and planning resources of a professor of curriculum and instruction named Peter Wardrip. Peter helped design the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum makerspace and consults for museums across the country. We are so glad to have made this connection.
We have also been visiting makerspaces wherever we can. We’ve taken tours of the UW-Engineering makerspace, the Betty Brinn makerspace in Milwaukee, and the Sun Prairie Children’s Museum makerspace for inspiration and ideas.
This week, our heroes helped create a sign for the maker space utilizing loose materials like crayons, LEGOs and pipe cleaners. Through this project they will begin to take ownership of the space and feel welcome to utilize it more and more!
Hero’s Journey
This week the children circled back to exploring the hero’s journey. They considered what makes a hero a hero? what does it mean to be brave? and who are your heroes and why? They are preparing “hero boards” to explore these questions and also in preparation for the upcoming exhibition. They also considered these questions during journaling time (we began daily journaling this week).
Some Questions You Can Ask Your Hero:
What book did you read during D.E.A.R. today?
Who is your hero?
What do they do that makes them a hero?
What’s a “seed of potential?”
How do you earn points?
What do you earn with your points?
What’s a critique?
How are you using critiques at school?
