NHS Library Learning Commons

The story so far...

We began playing with the concepts of a makerspace in the fall of 2016. There are many articles and websites about makerspaces and the need to make these skills available in a secondary school setting. We were well aware of the benefits but also aware of the difficulties in carving out, not only the space, but the extra funds, supervision and even the time for students to get involved. In a perfect world we would integrate both low-tech and high-tech skills into subject curriculum (a goal we haven't totally abandoned!).
Newmarket students are lucky that they have 2 fabulous resources here in their own town with the NewMakeIt maker space and the Maker Hub at the Newmarket Public Library.

In an effort to get started, we did as many high school libraries have done, and we began simply with providing various activities in the space.
We continue to rotate these in and out of the space as students' interests dictate.

These include:

etch-a sketch challenge
mandala / theme colouring pages
extreme dot to dot
book art: book folding/hidey box with discarded books
Zentangle chalk art
logic puzzles

Making a "hidey book"

Heart Fold

Book Folding

Thanks to a small group of students we began a Maker Club in the fall of 2017. These students decided on a few projects that interested them that we would all examine when we got together. It was decided that if as a group, we made something or learned something, we would try to share that for students on their lunch or spare to take advantage of.

Our first group project was a foray into Tinkercad.com 3D design

The group worked through 4 Tinkercad tutorials and culminated in a 3D Keyring which we then printed on the 3D printers in the Tech room!

Our second project was led by Emily Gilbert. Emily introduced us to pop tab jewelry!
Many of us made bracelets over a lunch period and were joined by other students and staff who found it quite relaxing. Thanks to Emily we were able to leave out instructions and supplies as a "permanent" maker station.