Make some space..for a MakerSpace

 I need to be honest here...I did not know what a maker space was last week. I had heard the term, it's been a bit of a buzz word among the elementary educators in my school building, but I could not have defined the term for you. As a high school teacher, I didn't think it applied to me. I was wrong. I know, I know...GASP...sometimes even teachers are wrong. I'm owning up to it, and have done a little digging. 
After a little research, I'm here to tell you just what a maker space is, and why you need one in your classroom. 

A maker space is just what it sounds like. A space to make stuff. 

Okay, maybe that's a little simplistic. 

John Stein, author and classroom teacher, defined the makerspace a little more eloquently than I did, he says...

"I see a makerspace as simply a space designed and dedicated to hands-on creativity,” he explains, “and the key thing there is they’re actually making something. Creativity is sometimes idea generation, it’s sometimes problem-solving. But (in) a makerspace, you’re actually going to create some kind of product. Now it could be a digital product. It could be a physical product. But there is an actual product, so you’re not going to, say, design an event or a service project. That’s not what a makerspace is for, so it’s a space devoted to and differentiated and set up for making.” (Gonzales, 2018) "  

This definition helped me realize the potential of makerspaces in my high school social studies classroom. 

Now, in order for this type of implementation to be effective, there needs to be a high standard of classroom management. Paper, cardboard, tape, and glue can cause a big mess. Spencer says, talking with students ahead of time, allowing for moments of quiet reflection, and co-creating procedures with the students are key in assuring the rules are followed and students are behaving responsibly(Gonzales, 2018).  

As I pondered the ways I might implement maker spaces in my social studies classes, my mind immediately went to textiles. I think my students would love creating garments that showcase fashions from a given decade. I'm thinking Coco Chanel, here. This project would also be interdisciplinary as students would have to use math to construct the pieces. Other google tools like sites would be perfect for showcasing these projects, or even a YouTube live fashion show!

A few more ideas were:

•  building models of ships and testing sails for our exploration unit
• painting or creating original art to reflect art movements throughout history ( for my art and WW1 unit) 
• building military fortifications models ( any and all the many wars we cover could fit here) 
• building music players to analyze the impact of music on society and culture through time. 
• writing/composing music in various forms (jazz, ragtime, blues, etc)
•  build mini-scale high ways ( Truman and the high way system) 
• investigate and build spy wear, and wire wearing devices ( Watergate anyone?) 
• building skyscrapers, trying different materials and analyzing the data against historical accounts like the San Francisco Fire or 911
• Build safety systems within buildings to ensure the safest workplace environments ( this would lend itself to my Triangle Shirt Waist fire lesson) 

I literally could go on and on. And frankly, when I started this, I thought maker spaces were for science class, or maybe computer class. I couldn't see how they fit into my curriculum, but my eyes have been opened! My biggest hurdle here is in the actual materials, but I think parents in our private school would be more than willing to donate to our maker space. I even thought it possible to contact local businesses who may be willing to donate items they no longer need. Even if I can accomplish one of these ideas, even in a simple form- I will have offered my students an environment to safely explore their creativity and learn in a more authentic, hands-on way.  Maker spaces foster creativity, collaboration, and communication, (all skills necessary to succeed as a 21st-century learner) while providing students with interactive hands-on experiences that can drive them to innovate in the future. 

I will be building some type of maker space in my classroom this year (even if it has to be a virtual one) and I think you should too. 

References

Gonzales, J. (2018, May 20) What is the point of a Makerspace? Cult of Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/makerspace/