Teacher Makerspace Playground

According to the very inspirational George Couros, part of growing professionally is taking risks and trying new things.  This year, before Hurricane Harvey, I decided that I wanted to host a makerspace playground for teachers that would show them not only what we had to offer in the library, but also how makerspace supports curriculum.  Although my playground was delayed due to Harvey, we did still host it, and actually had people beyond our campus attend it!
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What is a Makerspace Playground? A makerspace playground is a setting where you showcase different makerspace tools at stations for an audience to play with.

How can you set up a Makerspace Playground?  Here are some tips:

1. Find some co-hosts.  My academic coaches and my Learning Technology Coach, Doris Herrmann,, @dorish planned this with me.

2. Make a list of stations that you want to showcase.

3.  Make sure your principal promotes it.  Twitter, Facebook, and phone and email blasts are great ways to do this.

4.  Send out emails to invite other interested parties.

5. Create a passport for each content area that lists the items showcased and what they could be used for in their content areas. This is also a great place for teachers to take notes on what they are learning about.

Here is one my math coach, Sara Bordelon, created.

6. Provide refreshments

7. Have students present to demonstrate how to use different items.

Here is one of my students explaining how to use Bloxels.

8. Make signs to let teachers know what they are playing with and some ideas for use in the classroom.

In a couple of weeks, I will be hosting a Makerspace Playground for students that teachers can sign their classes up for. At this event, I plan to create challenges for the students to complete at the different stations.

Here are some ways that I plan on sharing new makerspace items that the library acquires throughout the year?

• I will create flipped videos 
• Twitter @BIS_library
• This blog

What are some ways you share makerspace with teachers?

Collaborating with Math in the Library

How do math and library go together?  This is a question I hear all of the time.  I think this is a content that librarians really struggle with working with.  Librarians and math teachers have a hard time seeing where they meet and can collaborate together.  I have been very fortunate in that I have a math coach at my campus that loves the library and encourages her teachers to work with me.  We do have a whole section in the library of books that deal with math; however, the most valuable way that I have been able to support my math teachers is through makerspace.

One of the curriculum topics that students struggle with is circumference.   Based on a lesson that was done on another campus, I decided to work with 7th grade math to have students create hula hoops in a makerspace activity.  Students actually took irrigation tubing that we pre-cut using a PVC cutter, connectors, and duck tape to make their own hula hoops.  They then used string to see the relationship between circumference and diameter, which is Pi!

You will need the following supplies to recreate this math makerspace:

1. Irrigation tubing https://www.lowes.com/pd/ADS-3-4-in-x-100-ft-100-PSI-Plastic-Coil-Pipe/3514714
2. PVC Cutter
3. Connectors https://www.lowes.com/pd/LASCO-10-Pack-3-4-in-Dia-Coupling-Plastic-Coil-Fittings/50139802
4. 150 grit sandpaper
5. Blow dryer
6. Duct tape
7. Twine for circumference

Directions:

1. Pre-cut the tubing into pieces that will close into a circle.
2. Sand down the connector so that it will fit into the tubing.
3. Use the hair dryer to help completely close the tubing onto the connector.  The heat helps mold it on.
4. Use Duct tape to seal the seam and decorate your Hula Hoop.

Here is a link to the directions and activity provided by my awesome math coach, Sara Bordelon!

There you have it, makerspace that supports curriculum!

What kinds of activities have you done with math?