Sarah F. Continuing Education, Favorite Websites, Professional Reading, Starting a Makerspace

Youth Makerspace Playbook by Maker Ed

Click here to access a stellar document about Makerspaces — the Youth Makerspace Playbook by MakerEd!

Whether you are in the planning stages or have been running your space for years — you’ll find something useful here. One of my favorite things in this document is Appendix D, which speaks about language use. It is so important to be intentional with the language you are using with your makers. For example, we might have a young person who isn’t sure how to start or wants specific examples, instructions, etc. We might say something like, “I hear that you’re having a hard time getting started and would prefer an example. I do have some if you’d like, but how about waiting a bit and seeing what others are trying out? Perhaps something will inspire you. Try just messing around first, just playing and having fun. I’ll check back with you in a bit to see how you’re feeling.” I love that!

And be sure to check out the Maker Ed website for more resources! Worth a bookmark!
Sarah F. Programs & Events

Send your Name into Space!

The folks at NASA always have something cool going on. Right now anyone can sign up to send their name for a flight around the moon. I signed up the library and am going to post this on our social media to promote an upcoming NASA program. There are so many different ways you could incorporate this into your library programming! Perhaps even set up a station after school to help kids enter their names and create their boarding passes!

The names will be included on a flash drive that will fly aboard Artemis I.
Artemis I will be the first uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft. The flight paves the way toward landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon! Click here for more information!

Sarah F. Favorite Websites, Starting a Makerspace

Makers in the Library

If there is one place to get started or up your makerspace game, it’s at Makers in the Library. What an incredible resource! Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this website provides an in-depth toolkit that covers virtually every aspect of makerspaces, including a whole lot of extremely helpful planning tools.

Their excel spreadsheets are a gamechanger. Check out the action plan spreadsheet and – best of all because I’m a nerd – the budget spreadsheet! I am always so grateful when people create beautiful spreadsheets full of formulas that I could never figure out.

Stop reading this now and go down the wondrous rabbit hole!

Make sure to subscribe to their newsletter while you are there, and join the Facebook group.