Lewis and Clark Learns

Because of a Liberty School District Foundation grant, a group of LC students had the opportunity to share our robotics grant with Liberty community members attending a LSDF breakfast on the William Jewell College campus.  All three schools involved in the grant brought students to the event and demonstrated how each of the grant robots work and what they have learned about coding and programming.  The students who represented Lewis and Clark did a fantastic job talking to community members, LSDF representatives, and LPS employees.  It was a great experience!  

I am currently completing year two of running a MakerSpace in my library.  It is a constant struggle to make sure that materials are available and ready for upcoming builds and projects.  Here are a few ways that I have been able to keep up with the needs of our kids and the space.  Donations of recycled materials are an easy fix.  I have found that just letting families know what is needed at the beginning of the year seems to keep those materials coming in throughout the year.  Just today, there were 3 bags of recycled materials sitting by my mailbox in the office.  They contained tin cans, plastic water bottles, lots of paper towel and toilet paper rolls, and the ever popular duct tape.  I have also been gifted fabulous donations of yarn, fabric, and other craft materials.   Donor's Choose projects have been a great resource for our MakerSpace.  I have created and have fully funded 3 projects that range from sewing machines and ...

About a year ago I set out to bring a MakerSpace to my elementary school library. Because of a grant that I was awarded, a write up about our library program through MASL (Missouri Association of School Librarians), and a Principal team who often presents PD around the area, I have had MANY visitors to our library MakerSpace.  After spending countless hours answering emails and questions about the space, I have finally taken some time to formally write down a bit of what I have learned along the way.  I certainly am not an expert on MakerSpaces and continue to learn everyday how to make my program better.  I continue to read professional materials, visit other MakerSpaces, and search far and wide for new opportunities for my students.  However, I hope the information and experience I now have can give others a step up in... Planning and Implementation of a MakerSpace!

Lewis and Clark Christmas lists look a little different this year thanks to our MakerSpace.  So many kids have shared with me what they are asking for this year for Christmas and upcoming birthdays.  My students are asking for littlebits, MaKeyMaKeys, snap circuits, knitting needles, OSMO and of course Sphero robotic balls.  I can't wait to see what shows up under their trees and in their stockings.   This never would have happened if I hadn't received the LSDF Grant! My students would not have known what most of those materials were if they had not experienced them in our MakerSpace.  So thank you LSDF for helping me show my students what is possible!

Mrs. Haynes and I are so thrilled to be awarded another LSD Foundation grant.  We are developing book clubs for kids to plan and run on their own.  We MAKE, THINK, and READ in the LC Library Maker Center!