This document provides an overview of a classroom makerspace workshop presented by Shawn and Steph Grimes. The agenda includes introducing the Digital Harbor Foundation, maker vocabulary, benefits of a makerspace, how to create one, project ideas, and a question and answer session. Sample low-cost project ideas are wind tubes, art bots, light painting, and vortex cannons made from everyday materials. Funding options and resources for starting a makerspace with a small budget of under $200 are also discussed.

1. Classroom Makerspace:
Your Guide to Inexpensive Making in
the Classroom
Shawn & Steph Grimes
January 2015

2. Logistics
• Restroooms
• Breaks
• WiFi
• Today’s Meet Backchannel:
• today.io/x4p0

3. Who Are We?
Shawn Grimes Steph Grimes
Technologist
App Developer
Director of Technology
Maker
@shawng
Former Teacher
App Designer
Director of Education
Maker
@createdbysteph

4. Agenda
• About Digital Harbor Foundation
• How We Started Making
• Maker Vocabulary
• Why Create a Makerspace?
• How to Create a Makerspace
• Project Ideas
• Let’s Make Something
• Q&A

5. Digital Harbor Foundation
•Tech Center
•Curriculum
•Community
•Center of
Excellence

6. Rec Center

7. Tech Center
After-School & Summer Maker Programs for Youth

13. Vocabulary
•Making - learning by doing / creating
•Maker - someone who creates and shares
•Makerspace - places to design & create
•Maker Movement - growing community of
makers, often centered around new
technologies

14. Why Create a
Makerspace for
Your Program?

15. Peek into a Makerspace
Failure & Iteration
Collaboration
Creativity
Engaged youth
Open-Ended
Reflection
Youth driven, Teacher supported
Curiosity & Interest

16. The Time is Now
•Common Core, NGSS, ISTE Nets
•Maker Movement is gaining STEAM
•Prepare youth for the challenges that will
face them
•We don’t know the careers of the future

17. #NationOfMakers

18. How to Create
a Makerspace in
Your Program

19. Getting Started
• Start Small:
• ArtBots
• LED Name Tags
• Kits
• Increment:
• MaKey MaKey
• Scratch

20. Try It Out
• Global Cardboard
Challenge
• Caine’s Arcade
• Sept & Oct

21. Types of Makerspaces
Makerspace in a Box

22. Types of Makerspaces
Pop-Up Space

23. Types of Makerspaces
Designated Space

24. When to Make
• After School
• Open Lunch
• Before School
• Centers or Stations
• Innovation Day
• Family Night

25. What Does it Cost?
Makerspace
in a Box:
Less than
$200

26. Funding a Makerspace
• Use part of your budget
• Community Fundraising
• Crowdfunding
• Donors Choose, Rally.org, Give Corps
• Local company sponsorships
• Grants
• Family Donations

27. Project Ideas

28. Wind Tube
$40 in materials + craft supplies
Explore aerodynamics

29. Art Bots
< $2 each - Simple art robots
Pool Noodles, Electric Toothbrush, Battery, Markers
Rubber Bands

31. Light Painting
$4 each - Simple light machines
Plastic Cups, Pool Noodles, Battery, Hobby Motor,
LEDs, Cardboard, Tape

33. Vortex Canon

34. Straw Rockets

35. Paper Rockets

36. Paper Circuits

37. CD Rom Hovercraft

38. MaKey MaKey
$45 - Turns anything conductive into a keyboard
- Playdoh Game Controller - Veggie Piano -

40. Tackk
www.tackk.com

41. 3D Printer
Start at $600 - Print almost anything in plastic

42. Cricut Paper Cutter

43. Let’s Make Something!
LED Name Tag

44. LEDs
Light Emitting Diode

45. Coin Cell Batteries

46. LED Connection Diagram

47. All You Need To Write
Down
HTTP://DHF.IO/ROOM2MAKE

48. Resources
• http://dhf.io/class-maker
• #MakerEd chat on Twitter (Tues at 9pm)
• Book: Invent to Learn by Gary Stager & Sylvia Martinez
• Book: Howtoons: Tools of Mass Construction by Dr.
Griffith Saul, and others
• Book: How to Build a Hovercraft: Air Cannons,
Magnetic Motors, and 25 Other Amazing DIY Science
Projects by Stephen Voltz & Fritz Grobe
• Book: Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making by Curt
Gabrielson
• Make: Magazine & Website

49. Questions?

50. Contact Us
Steph Grimes
steph@digitalharbor.org
@createdbysteph
Shawn Grimes
shawn@digitalharbor.org
@shawng
www.digitalharbor.org @DHFBaltimore