Fun projects for mini makers
The spirit of Maker Culture has permeated our collective consciousness. Call it what you will: Making, DIY, constructivism… it seems to be everywhere these days! And the library is no exception – witness our new Digital Innovation Hubs at the Toronto Reference Library and the soon-to-be-opened Fort York branch.
Now that this formerly hidden subculture has made its way into the mainstream, there are lots of opportunities for children to get involved. When my kids and I were bored over March Break, we discovered Sylvia's Super Awesome Maker Show. Sylvia Todd, now 12 years old, has put together some very creative instructional videos on how to make everything from sidewalk chalk to simple circuits, lava lamps and robots. We made periscopes! Here's the how-to video:
Now, how about some books to spark your inner-innovator? This one has a fancy periscope that lights up with LEDs:
Explore the library's collection of science project books. A hot air balloon to go with your periscope?
And this list wouldn't be complete without the latest book on everyone's favourite building blocks:
Maker events for kids coming up at the library include Book Bash on April 26, 2014 at Northern District branch, and Building Buildings on May 24 at Fort York branch. I'd also like to check out the MakerKids space, near Dundas and Bloor in Toronto. They offer a lot of hands-on programs and special events.
Critics of the whole Maker movement for kids may complain that it's just a new way to say "crafts." I beg to differ. Yes, the end result may be a crafted product, but the value lies in the process. True Making for kids is child-led and discovery-based. We are tapping into their fascination with new technologies, but doing it in a communal setting. In a world where children are tempted by so much solo screen time, any trend that encourages social, inquisitive, human interaction is fine by me!
One thought on “Fun projects for mini makers”
Great post about all the fun maker things to do with kids. I agree with you about the difference between crafts and maker projects, where the value lies in the process and not the product. Because even if the product doesn’t end up working the way it should, there is room for thinking about what can be changed to make it work!
I also really love “The Big Book of Things to Make” by James Mitchem. A lot of my projects will be coming out of this one.
Thanks for the great post!