Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes

When I tell teacher-librarians and other educators that I fit makerspace centers and activities into a fixed library schedule, I sometimes get incredulous or skeptical looks. So I thought I’d give some background and a sneak peek at a typical library class at my school.

Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes: building pieces in a white tray.

Here’s what the average 40-minute library class looks like for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade (and maybe 2nd grade in the future).

5-10 minutes –

Students drop off books in the book return bin and sit at a table in the library.  Two students pass out the center tracking booklets to their classmates as I review the center choices for today, and introduce a new center if needed.  I try not to introduce more than 1 center per week/cycle.  If it’s a makerspace center with a tool like littleBitsâ„¢ or paper circuits, I demonstrate it quickly…no more than 5 minutes, then refer students to the library website resources for further help.  Before dismissing students to check out, I use Flippity’s Random Name Picker tool to have students pick their center by placing their center booklet at their chosen “spot.”  Doing this prevents students rushing through or skipping book exchange to get to a center they want.

10 minutes –

Students check out new books or at least scan their card before choosing a center.  I do have a part-time assistant who helps with circulation, but if she’s not here, then I’m at the desk running the computer.

15-20 minutes –

Immediately after book exchange students choose a center and “check in” using a QR code to access a Google Form and one of the library’s Nexus 7 tablets.  Then, they work at their center, which for makerspace centers might include:

White text caption reading "Makerspace in 40 Minutes? Yes, you can!" on a green background with a photo collage showing library makerspace centers set up with no students, and students from many multicultural backgrounds working at on makerspace activities. The overlaid white text on the photos reads "10-15 min. Directions + Book Exchange, 15-20 min. Making Time!, 3-5 Min. Cleanup" | Mrs. J in the Library

I started the school year with ALL research centers.  Once students earned their “Research Skills” badge by completing 4-6 research centers correctly, they had free-choice to choose any “Research Skills,” “Makerspace,” or “Reading & Language” centers for the rest of the year.  These 4-6 completed research centers are in addition to other research projects that I teach in collaboration with their classroom teacher.

As students work at their centers, I circulate the room to stamp their center tracking booklets and remind students to “check in.”  For research centers students only get a stamp if they get a correct answer AND have their resources cited correctly. If I don’t have time to check answers on the fly, I still have their check-ins on Google Forms to verify what center they chose, and their answer slips/research packets to check later.

3-5 minutes –

Near the end of class, I start playing music to signal students to find a good stopping place and clean up their center space (I’m partial to swing/big band music).  If they are still working on a makerspace project, they can save it for next time, usually in a zip-top bag.

For research centers, they usually have a slip of paper or a packet that will fit inside their center tracking booklet to save for next time.  I’m working on an updated center booklet that includes pages for working on research questions and projects so that they can be submitted through Google Classroom…but that’s another blog post.

After class –

I don’t count this as part of the 40 minutes, but after class or after school, I usually go through all of the “check in” responses on the Google Form and I keep a spreadsheet of where each student went each week.  This takes about 10 minutes per class, so about 30 minutes of “grading” a day for all three grade levels.  Sometimes I can even squeeze 2 classes of grading into my planning or lunch time. 

Tracking student learning keeps students accountable, and if they don’t “check in,” I choose their center the following week (communicated via a post-it note on their center booklet).

For more information about my library centers tracking, QR code “check in,” and the center menu booklets I use, check out this blog post!

If you have any tips to share about having a makerspace on a fixed schedule, I’d love to hear them on your favorite social media @MrsJintheLibrary.

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12 thoughts on “Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes”

  1. How often do the students visit the library? Once a week?? Thank you for sharing how you accomplish so much in one class period!

    1. Hello Kim! Thanks for the question! I have 3 of the centers in my shop:
      Ladybug Observation and Research Center, also in digital format
      Bird Watching and Research Center, with the digital version here.

      For the Question of the Week/Month center, I also use Elementary Library Mama’s Encyclopedia Task Cards for the questions.

      The last research center I offer is an Independent Research Center with the option of adding suggested research topics related to a theme or school read-aloud. I don’t have that posted to my store yet.

      My students can visit any combination of the above centers to complete 4 to 6 research activities with citations.

      1. Thank you so much for your speedy reply! I am trying to maximize my time with the kids and give them some choices too. I was really curious how you did your research center(s). This is very helpful and I will be following you for sure!! Have a great day!

  2. This is awesome….thank you! I also have the same schedule and trying to find another way to get through my maker spaces, lessons, and check out. I will give this a try. again, thanks

  3. Do you or when do you teach lessons? I am on a fixed schedule now and have no empty time slots. If I do centers and check out I would not have time to teach.

    1. Hello Julianne! I have 40-minute classes on a fixed schedule, and I do teach skills with some direct instruction, but practicing those skills is through centers, which includes makerspace centers. Also, as the blog post states, the 40 minutes includes book exchange time too.

      If you’re worried about not having enough time, considering doing book checkout every other class, or alternating 1 class of direct instruction and 1 class of centers time.

  4. I just got moved to a middle school and would love to implement this in this new library I want to keep the kids engaged in the library and want them to love coming in. I also have 50 minutes classes and I just showed them how to check in and out so I would love to now incorporate these ideas. Do you have ideas or can direct me to someone who has some ideas like these for middle school? This is a 6th through 8th grade campus. I love the idea of using QR codes to keep track of who is doing what.

  5. How often do you read to your classes? I also have 40 minute classes including checkout. I love doing centers (and love your ideas) but am find that I have time to read a story or do centers, not both. I want them to love reading and hear a variety of books, but also want them to explore centers and have some choice. How do you balance this?

    1. Great question! I read to kindergarten and 1st grade almost every class. I read to 2nd and 3rd grades about half the year for orientation and our state’s young reader’s choice award nominations. But for 4th, and 5th, I mostly did centers after orientation, genre review, and reviewing research skills (which are practiced and reinforced with centers).
      I love reading aloud, but honestly, my voice can’t do 6 grades anymore now that I’m in my late 30’s. Plus for older grades, the students already have favorite genres, and if a student didn’t like the book I picked (which of course, isn’t a problem), then I had a much harder time both engaging them and managing their behavior. So that’s what works for me, but everyone’s different. There’s nothing wrong with doing centers only occasionally, or whatever works for you.

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