Maker Mentors at Rodriguez neighborhood library have been posing sculpture challenges to the young makers. Each maker gets an envelope that contains a random assortment of objects, including but not limited to pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, pom po poms odds and ends from the collection of single lost earrings, broken toys, and other oddities. Their challenge is to make a sculpture using all or some of… Read more →
Month: October 2014
Making Maker Space
Many of the kids that come to maker space at Rodriguez come everyday, it is their place to tinker with electronics, learn new skills in building and designing, and hang out. In a conversation with one of these kids I asked her what it felt like being a “Maker”, to which she asked “why are you always using that word,… Read more →
Paper Mache as a Maker Activity
In the maker program at the Kensington library I have found myself leading a lot of paper mache activities. It began while we were in production mode for our first movie, “Plan 19 from Outer Space.” We needed alien costumes so we used a method of making paper mache masks that I learned from some puppet masters in New York.… Read more →
Audiobooks and Partner Poetry
Last week I had the opportunity to run our weekly tinkering session. I was worried about how my ideas would be received. With the abundance of our focus being placed upon STEM and STEAM activities, l was afraid that literacy had gotten lost in the shuffle of technology. To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about even… Read more →
Intro to Sewing with Finger Puppets
We had six and seven year olds stitching like pros with this super simple activity. All you need issome felt or other non-stretchy fabric, needles and thread, glue, and any craft supplies or knick knacks that you may have laying around for decoration. I start out by showing kids an example finger puppet and asking them what they… Read more →
Maker Jawn talks Teaching Teens How to Fail at PALA
Maker Jawn was pleased to speak at this years Pennsylvania Library Association conference. The talk, Teaching Teens How to Fail, was delivered by Sari Widman, Goda Trakumaite, Bobby Raggazion, and Brandon Klevence (with a lovely introduction by Lillian Marrero branch manager Rebekah Ray). Listen to the talk below! We discussused how Maker Jawn started, our education philosophy, and how librarians (or really… Read more →