Winter Break Boredom Breakers For the Warren County Library System, I did a short series of STEAM activities for families to do at home over winter break. With easy to find, inexpensive materials, each challenge encourages kids to build, create, and experiment. Try them! Post your results on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #warrenlib. Or…
Maker Campus Workshops Make: Magazine, Make: Co, and Maker Camp have recently launched a new learning platform specially designed for Maker Education. Maker Campus is a place to connect, learn, and make together. Find enriching and interactive events including talks by expert makers, project demos, classes, virtual workshop tours, and more. I am very honored…
25 Days of Making For the last several years, “Coffee for the Brain” creator Aaron Maurer, a fantastic educator, blogger, and podcaster, has lead an amazing seasonal project. It’s called the 25 Days of Making and it’s wonderful. Basically, Aaron gets dozens of makers, teachers, writers, and educators to create special projects to celebrate creativity.…
Make:Co When COVID-19 shut down in-person schools and clubs across the country this March, I had the incredible opportunity to become part of a team of educators who provided free online programs through Maker Camp. Throughout the Spring and Summer, then into the Fall, I hosted live-streamed workshops on a wide variety of topics. Here’s…
Make: Co kicked off the maker movement with innovative Maker Faires, international programs for kids like Maker Camp, loads of books and kits, and, of course, the beloved magazine. When COVID-19 closed schools around the world in 2020, Make coordinated online workshops and programs offered for free by selected maker hosts. Our own Sandy Roberts…
This project was originally published on Make: Projects. Use your origami skills to fold a “paper balloon.” Then add a battery, LED, and binder clip as a switch to transform your creation into a simple lamp. This easy circuit project is a great way to explore switches. Plus, there is considerable room for self-expression as…
This project was originally published on Make: Projects. Use origami to fold a cute ladybug. Then add a small vibrating motor so that is skitters around. This is a really fun, easy variation on a vibrobot. What You’ll Need Origami paper, one sheet, red 3-volt coin battery (CR2032 or CR2025) Maker Tape or ¼-inch copper…
This project was originally shared on Make: Projects. Fold a simple butterfly using origami and then add LEDs to create light-up antenna. This is a fun way to learn about and build circuits while also practicing the precision of origami and being creative. This project is based on the Luna Moth from The Big Book…
These simple upcycled water bottle submarines are a great way to explore buoyancy, air pressure, and density. When placed in water, the bottle fills with water, pulling it down below the surface, then, by blowing air through an attached straw, the water is forced out and the submarine rises again. Not only is this a…
With real-life Maker Faires on hold across the globe due to COVID-19, a new, online version has arrived. Featuring 24 hours of presentations, workshops, demos, and exhibits across all time zones by makers all across the globe, Virtually Maker Faire is unlike any other event. So on March 23rd, the internet becomes the stage as…
