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Elementary Makerspaces!

White text reading "Elementary Makerspace Resources : Curated by Mrs. J in the Library & Colleen Graves" on a vertical striped background of blue, purple, and indigo
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Elementary Library Makerspace Resources

created with the amazing and inspiring Colleen Graves!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item after clicking the link, I will receive a small commission.  See Disclosures & Disclaimers for more information.

BEST Resources for Elementary School Makerspaces

Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes – Blog post by Mrs. J in the Library about offering makerspace and/or STEM activities on a fixed library schedule.Label #1
Circulating Maker Kits – Blog post by Mrs. J in the Library on different kits students can check out, including free MARC records
Makerspaces.com Ultimate Makerspace Resource Guide – Plenty of activity ideas and links to more resources.
K-12 Fab Lab & Makerspaces Resource Website – heavily skewed towards secondary, but still lots of great ideas & colleagues
Make It! @ Your Library – Website for public libraries, but has MANY low-tech, low-cost projects

Maker Librarians to Follow

Librarian Name / TwitterBlog or WebsiteLibrary or School District
Nan StifelCHS Short StacksConcord Hill School, MD
Tracy RiceMason Makerspace LibGuideMason Elementary School in Leander ISD, TX
Donna MacdonaldOrchard School Library MakerspaceOrchard School, VT
Andy PlemmonsExpect the MiraculousBarrow Elementary Media Center, GA
Nancy Jo LambertReedy High School LibraryFormerly ES, now Reedy HS Library in Frisco ISD, TX
Cynthia AlanizLibrarian in Cute ShoesCottonwood Creek Elementary Library in Coppell ISD, TX
Heidi NeltnerDigital Learning in ProgressJohnson Elementary School, KY
Collette J.Mrs. J in the Library (you are here)Spring Ridge Elementary School in Wilson SD, PA
Shawna FordContinuously Learning in the Library (former blog)Formerly at Curtis ES, now Future Ready Learning Coordinator
Diana RendinaRenovated LearningTampa Preparatory School (secondary), FL
Gwyneth JonesThe Daring LibrarianMurray Hill Middle School, MD
Todd BurlesonToddBurleson.comThe Skokie School (MS), IL
Molly MagroImagine Better LibraryEyer Middle School in East Penn SD, PA
Tina BerumenNew Tech High in Coppell ISD, TX

FREE Resources!

Learning to Code Makerspace Center (for Scratch™, ScratchJr.™ app, or Lightbot™ app) by Mrs. J in the Library
MARC Records for Circulating Maker Kits by Mrs. J in the Library (right column, bottom)
littleBits™ 101 Task Cards by Mrs. J in the Library
Beginner Paper Circuits from Chibitronics
Tinkering Fundamentals from Exploratorium
Instructables – You can even search for projects by material type!
Public Library as Makerspace in Duxbury, Massachusetts
DIY Paper Circuits Tutorials from Blink Blink
Stop Motion Animation from Tinker Lab

Makerspace Centers & Products

  • Sample card from Demco® Maker Task Cards for 4th and 5th grade students to do Constellation Sewing: Choose a constellation from the books at your table or a digital resource, or design your own. Draw your constellation on the piece of plastic canvas, and thread some yarn onto a needle. Sew the stars and shape of your constellation onto the canvas with your yarn. Tie a knot, or cut and glue the end of the yarn to the back of the canvas to finish your constellation. Reflection Questions: Why did your choose to make that design or constellation? What other designs or projects could you make with the yarn and plastic canvas? Arts & Creativity activity details: 15-20 minutes (or extend to multiple class periods if there is room to store the projects between classes), individual activity, list of materials needed.
    Demco® Maker Task Cards – Arts & Creativity
  • Sample card from Demco® Maker Task Cards for 2nd and 3rd grade students to design and build a Pulley Pull-up: Use the building materials to make a pulley that can lift one of the objects at your table. Reflection Questions: What everyday things have a pulley in them or use a pulley to work? What could you add or change about your pulley to make it better next time? Design & Build activity details: 10-15 minutes, individual activity, list of materials needed.
    Demco® Maker Task Cards – Design & Build
  • 3DuxDesign cardboard pieces connected with connectors in the shape of a house or building. Several pieces of cardboard and colorful connectors are scattered in front with the title "3DuxDesign Cardboard Connectors for easy and affordable maker projects"
    3DuxDesign Cardboard Connectors
  • Q-BA-MAZE Cool Colors set and Marble Catchers on a white background with the text caption "Q-BA-MAZE Marble Maze Blocks"
    Q-BA-MAZE™ 2.0 Marble Maze Blocks

Great Pinterest Boards

Also, check out Mrs. J in the Library’s project and material-specific Pinterest boards: 

  • Building – School Makerspace
  • Coding – School Makerspace
  • Paper Projects and Origami – School Makerspace
  • Electricity and Circuits – School Makerspace
  • Paper Circuits – School Makerspace
  • Sewing and E-Textiles – School Makerspace
  • No Space for a Makerspace – Circulating Maker Kits

Ready-Made Circulating Maker Kits & Materials

  • Photo collage of Electric Sewing Circulating Maker kit with the title "Circulating Maker Kit, Electric Sewing" and a caption "Printables for 3 Kits: Bookmark making, Advanced E-sewing, Project finishing
    Electric Sewing Circulating STEAM Maker Kits

Articles for Professional Reading

  • Creating a Makerspace in an Elementary School Library – Knowledge Quest
  • Design Thinking projects for ES – Edutopia
  • What does the Next Generation School Library Look like? – Mind Shift / KQED
  • MAKE’ing More Diverse Makers – EdSurge (highlighting Dr. Leah Buechley’s excellent keynote speech, which is well worth a listen despite the strong language)

Other Maker Educators & Notable Influencers

Educator Name / TwitterBlog or Website
David Saunders, Director of Innovation at The Fenn SchoolDesignSaunders
Karly Moura, Technology & Computer Science TeacherTeaching, Tech, and Twitter
Jess Malloy, STEM Coach at Plano ISDSTEMing Ahead
Carol, STEM SpecialistTeachers Are Terrific
Krissy Venosdale, Innovation CoordinatorKrissyVenosdale.com
Josh Burker, Author of The Invent to Learn Guide to Fun & The Invent to Learn Guide to More FunJoshBurker.com
Sylvia Martinez & Gary Stager, Authors of Invent to LearnInvent to Learn website
AnnMarie Thomas, Author of Making Makers and Professor of Engineering at the University of St. ThomasSquishy Circuits & AnnMarie-Thomas.com
Leah Buechley, Author of Sew Electric and Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of New MexicoSewElectric.org & LeahBuechley.com
Kristin Fontichiaro, Associate Professor at the University of Michigan’s School of InformationKristin Fontichiaro’s Blog – Active Learning

More STEM Blogs & Homeschool Resources

  • 100 Engineering Projects for Kids from The Home School Scientist
  • 100 Super Fun STEM Resources for Kids from Raising Life-Long Learners
  • Tinkerlab – Lots of great Science experiments and art activities.
  • DIY.org – Paid subscription of projects for young students to do and share with the community, has badges for levels and achievements.
  • Buggy and Buddy Science Activities – One of my favorite collections of STEM/STEAM activities for elementary students.
  • 50 STEM Activities for Kids – mostly Pre-K, kindergarten, and 1st grade
  • Engineering is Elementary – Engineering Curriculum developed by the Museum of Science in Boston.  Lesson ideas by grade level!
  • The Maker Mom
  • Learn Play Imagine
  • Frugal Fun For Boys
  • Creekside Learning

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