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I finally got around to making some pop bottle rocket launchers. These don’t have any special safety features, one student holds onto the bottom of the rocket and launcher while another student pumps. They might get a little wet, but not as much as you would think. Parts : 5′ of 1/2″ PVC (cut into… Read more »

I got to do a little “trash talk” with some first graders at Clarks Creek Elementary in Plainfield. They all knew a bunch already, but we went over it just to make sure. They knew about landfills and the 3R’s (Reduce Reuse Recycle). I pulled some items out of a trash bag and they told… Read more »

I got to spend an afternoon with the Shakamak Elementary teachers talking about STEM & MakerEd. I gave them a bag of maker supplies and had some others/extras available as well as a hot glue station. They were to make something, anything…maybe related to class, maybe about themselves. They could do it individually or as… Read more »

I helped at the Crawford County 4-H Design Innovation Lab Open House. My main role was to do some laser cutting, so I personalized nametags for those that wanted one. A couple of kids then designed their own for me to laser (since my computer was logged into glowforge)

I presented at/attended the Indiana Association of Physics Teachers Spring 2024 meeting. Friday night was a gathering of 10 people and I shared “MakerSpace Physics”. It was a presentation with examples of making for learning Physics. I also shared many hands on items for them to explore (not everyone has done paper circuits or 3D… Read more »

Headed to Shoals High School to do some paper circuits with a couple of classes. They quickly did the battery & bulb (light up one LED with one battery, try each color, how many can you do at once, which colors work together). Then we introduced alligator clips for our wires. We started with 1… Read more »

On the morning of the total solar eclipse, I went to Eastern Greene Elementary to be a part of their PD morning. We talked about STEM & Maker Centered Learning. One thing that I had to learn for this was the 3D learning model/NGSS framework involving Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, Disciplinary Core Ideas. I focused on… Read more »

With the April 15th Total Solar Eclipse, a few schools wanted us to do some eclipse work. We went to Lakeview Elementary and Shakamak Elementary to work with a variety of grades to explore the eclipse. They all knew what was coming and had good explanations of what it was. One thing they (and most… Read more »

many people have done the Eclipse Chalk Art activity, but how about doing it with fabric paint on black t-shirts… Use your vinyl cutter to cut a circle, we did 6″. We used sticker vinyl because it wasnt going to be permanent. Stretch your shirt out and pin it to cardboard Put circle on the… Read more »

We purchased an Epson SureColor F170 Sublimation printer. I finally have a little time to work with it, so I got it going. There are many things to understand about creating with this printer. In addition to the special inks, you need sublimation paper. You also need “sublimation blanks” or material that is prepared to… Read more »