Books

Reading is very important.
It greatly bothers me the number of students who say "I hate to read".
In addition to having a great library with a full time librarian in every school (and I know many that do not), I think books should be all around the school. Book shelves in every classroom. Teachers can have some more content specific items, as well as things that they like/have read. I was lucky to have a Principal that also bought 2 rolling magazine racks for me to put outside my classroom. There are many Science and Maker magazines to share. If it is important, we should also make time for it during the. school day.

Here is a list of #MakerSpace books to check out. Some are projects, some are story books, some are #Maker philosophy...

{ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/195AiQqtUZwlMuTolePU08L8jbr12hjIoHQW1WqjuODM/edit?usp=sharing }

Building a Little Free Library could be another good way to promote reading. 

#MakersGonnaMake

 

What are you making this summer? It doesn’t have to be for school next year.

One of the great things about MakerEd is the vast variety of mediums to explore.

Are you cooking or baking or barbecuing?

Gardening?

Jams & Jellies?

Candles?

Knitting, sewing, crocheting?

Making jewelry?

Painting? 

Redoing shelves or cabinets (or rooms)?

Woodworking of some kind?

Do you have a local Farmers Market to visit?

That is all #MakerMindset. Have fun with it.

Now, many of those could be utilized in school. Math and Science are easy connections. But what about other subjects? History, Geography, Languages, Government...

Schools should have gardens. What can be grown in the country you are studying or what was grown in the time you are studying? Can you do some baking/cooking and talk about countries and their foods, their spices, the Spice Trade, trade in general? Candle making is good for scents and spices that are found in certain areas of the world. What are the clothes in the country or time or book you are studying, how did they make them, what material, where did it come from? So many questions that can be asked. Once you start asking, the students will naturally pick up the questioning. 

Remember, it is about using the artefact as a jumping off point for a variety of discussions. 

(deck chair I made...and I don't have a deck)