Our friends at Design Squad Maker and GBH Boston PBS have an amazing new project we want to promote: their new Design Squad Maker tool-kit and app! Tailored for youth aged 8-11 and their caregivers, this offering arrives at the perfect time–ready for the summer vacation season. Read more about these organizations, their work, and […]
Learning in the Making: Stamps & Patterns
Patterns are all around us. Some are found in nature. Some are made by people. A pattern is a repeated decorative design. Patterns can tell stories and be used as a way of communicating. Since patterns repeat over and over again, it could be useful to have a tool that helps you easily recreate the same shape or image. That’s where stamps come in! A stamp is a tool that has an image on one end and a handle, or something to hold, on the other. The image on a stamp is not flat, but raised up. When you dip the image of the stamp into ink or paint and press it against a piece of paper, your image is transferred over. Patterns can be drawn out, but that would take a lot of time. Stamps give us a chance to play with making patterns.
Learning in the Making: Storytelling
Everyone has stories to tell. These stories could be true or could come entirely from your imagination. Who are the characters? What world do they live in? What challenges do they face? Authors have the power to share their vision of a different world. Storytelling also connects us to our history and our ancestors. By creating stories we help other people see different ways of living. In our activities over the next two weeks, we will engage in some imaginative world making — where we will create fantastic characters and settings that expand our imagination of what is possible and what is important. Read more…
Learning in the Making: Visual Poetry
Looking for something fun to make at home? Each week we are collecting and curating resources around a topic and this week is visual poetry.
Poetry is all around us—in books and magazines and in the lyrics to your favorite hip hop song. Whether written on paper or spoken out loud, poetry taps into the power of words to express feelings, communicate ideas, and tell stories. A visual poem (sometimes known as a concrete poem) is a written poem that creates a visual image that relates to its meaning. We will be using our imaginations and creativity to create different shapes with words! Here’s some inspiration to get you started. Read more…
Learning in the Making: Sewing
Do you have mismatched socks lying around? Don’t throw them out! Sew them into a stuffed creature of your very own. Stuffed animals can provide a source of comfort in times of stress, reducing loneliness and anxiety. Here’s some inspiration to get you started. Read more…
Learning in the Making: Music
Close your eyes and listen. What do you hear? Birds chirping? Cars passing by? Laughter? Sounds are all around you, and all of those sounds are created by vibrations! Throughout history, people around the world have used vibration to create music as a source of joy, to mark important events, and to unite people during difficult times. Check out this activity to learn how vibrations create sound, and join us as we build some instruments and make music together! Read more…
Learning in the Making: Cooking
Looking for something fun to make at home? Each week we are collecting and curating resources around a topic and this week is cooking. Chefs do so much more than simply combine ingredients to make delicious meals, and they have a lot in common with mathematicians and scientists. They rely on scientific principles – especially with baking – and use math for a range of functions, from measurement to ratios, to conversations! Read more…
Learning in the Making: Zines
Looking for something fun to make at home? Each week we are collecting and curating resources around a topic and this week is zines. We are focusing on making with what you have around the house. Here’s some inspiration to get you started! Read more…
Learning in the Making: Design
Suggested supplies:
– Planning supplies: paper, pencil, markers, crayons
– Base material: cardboard, construction paper, felt, fabric
– Structural support: Chenille stems (pipe cleaners), craft sticks, straws, twist-ties, paper clips
– Connecting materials: tape, yarn, hot glue gun, glue sticks
– Decorating materials: pom poms, ribbon, yarn, markers
Zines as Expressions of Community Change
At Maker Ed, we believe that in order to have an impact across the country it is important to also partner with educators locally. One of our local connections is with Achieve Academy, a TK-6 public charter school in Oakland, CA. At our second workshop, we engaged in a Tinkering to Discover lesson focused on imagining change we would like to see in the community in which the school is located, Oakland. This lesson integrated zine-making, social justice themes, and English Language Arts content based on expressed educator need and interest from feedback at our first workshop. Read more…