Imagine It Update
I have started teaching some Imagine It lessons to my students. Students discovered why bees create honeycomb in the shape of hexagons. They posed the question of why it needed to be a hexagon because there are other shapes that tesselate also like a triangle or a square. Students discovered that bees use hexagons because it requires the least amount of beeswax to make. Honneybees require a lot of honey in order to produce beeswax so they want to use the least amount possible when creating honeycomb. Students were able to get a little vision into what my Imagine It project looks like. This exploration really engaged many of the students to start question parts of nature.
Final Imagine It Report
After reading The Maker Manifesto, by Mark Hatch, I have started to think about how this maker’s space movement is a movement in society that is going to create innovative inventors. As our world evolves into this new technological powerhouse, the opportunities to create are becoming easier and easier. We now have machines that can create three-dimensional objects and laser cutters to help with creations. Since we have these tools and technology, it can help make the average person an innovative thinker that the world at their fingertips. It is our jobs as teachers, to teach our students about this movement and show them how a maker space is used. The maker’s space is a place where people can go to have access to tools to create whatever they desire. From creating a phone case to creating a machine, the possibilities are endless.
What I have learned from my focus group and teaching demonstration is how to create a maker’s space in my classroom that replicates the real maker’s space. Since I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, some of the tools used in a real maker’s space are a little too advanced for my students. What I can do is create a space that sparks the creativity and innovation of my students. By having centers involving K’Nex, stop motion videos, and a station that requires creating electrical connections, I can provide my students with opportunities to create something new.
What I have learned from my colleagues is how I can make a personalized learning experience or my students. While teaching my students my Imagine It and allowing my students to explore through a maker’s space, I can create a personalized learning experience that will make it more meaningful to the students. Simply by creating smaller groups that will have their breakout sessions during class and are able to work and collaborate and grow together, I believe the students will have a higher quality education. After my report and findings on my Imagine It, I will now have smaller groups that will work together. I really feel that this will be the best for my students.
Looking forward, I am looking for ideas to help improve the maker’s space that I have set in my classroom. By incorporating different resources and materials, I am helping my students explore and take on tasks in different ways. I just added a center with magnets and also an electrical current section. I plan on getting a Makey Makey soon as well. I also want to create a center involving duct tape and allowing students to create things out of duct tape. Stay tuned.
What I have learned from my focus group and teaching demonstration is how to create a maker’s space in my classroom that replicates the real maker’s space. Since I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, some of the tools used in a real maker’s space are a little too advanced for my students. What I can do is create a space that sparks the creativity and innovation of my students. By having centers involving K’Nex, stop motion videos, and a station that requires creating electrical connections, I can provide my students with opportunities to create something new.
What I have learned from my colleagues is how I can make a personalized learning experience or my students. While teaching my students my Imagine It and allowing my students to explore through a maker’s space, I can create a personalized learning experience that will make it more meaningful to the students. Simply by creating smaller groups that will have their breakout sessions during class and are able to work and collaborate and grow together, I believe the students will have a higher quality education. After my report and findings on my Imagine It, I will now have smaller groups that will work together. I really feel that this will be the best for my students.
Looking forward, I am looking for ideas to help improve the maker’s space that I have set in my classroom. By incorporating different resources and materials, I am helping my students explore and take on tasks in different ways. I just added a center with magnets and also an electrical current section. I plan on getting a Makey Makey soon as well. I also want to create a center involving duct tape and allowing students to create things out of duct tape. Stay tuned.