{CUSTOMIZING A MAKERSPACE W/ PURPOSE & LOVE // ...}
when building his makerspace this time around i wanted to make sure that i started w/ the basics and build in regular time to observe, assess progress, address challenges and add in tools along the way. we’ve built a maker-space before. bc, i thought it would be ‘cool’. a massive pegboard out in our garage/homeschool studio space and it was glorious. but, i focused too much on making it ‘cute’. my attention was built around projects w/ a desired end result and i believe that to be the reason it’s never quite produced the result we were truly seeking. we still have high hopes for that space and i’ll chat about that sometime soon. but, this year is all about stripping off every weight that holds us back and keeps us from moving into what GOD has for us and tuning into THEM instead of the potential praises of others. so, customizing a maker-space on purpose, w/ purpose and so much love is the goal!!
he asked for cardboard, a few batteries and a burrito for his birthday and i could only dream of so much more! inclining my heart to his/their gifts and his/their interest is my favorite thing to do as homeschool mom. so, it was off to the dreaming board and considering him first was key! starting w/ purpose will forever be the goal around here.
PURPOSE //
to make room for him to THINK, ASK QUESTIONS, SOLVE PROBLEMS, INNOVATE & EXPLORE without looking for a SPECIFIC end result that would satisfy my own selfish desire to feel accomplished as his mom and his teacher. far too often we project expectations on them that keep them inside of a box and cripple their creativity! i pray that i will forever be bold enough to resist the urge to mold him w/ my finite imaginations and rather encourage him to press on to so much more.
IDENTIFY/DEFINE YOUR SPACE //
the last go around i decided to create a space in our garage. somewhere comfortable ‘for me’. somewhere i could imagine myself closing the door on the mess they might make rather than considering its functionality and ease of use. while i have new plans for that space this time around i chose to CONSIDER THEM FIRST. what i knew for certain is that their best ideas often come in the early morning and at night. while in bed, thinking of the day ahead or at night recapping the adventures in the hours before them. considering his room as the perfect space to set his ideas, sketch, materials before him, the decision was truly a no-brainer, for sure.
i really feel as if maker-spaces can be all and anything you want or need them to be and IDENTIFYING YOUR OWN NEED is key. it could be on a wall in a bedroom or a lab in the garage, a tiny corner of a school room or a basket in the living/dining room corner, a cart that you can wheel around where you want and even a container/basket that you can pack in the trunk of the car. i actually have the makings for all of these spaces as i love to be able to pivot, change and adjust based on what our current season requires.
SET GOALS//
when i try out something that feels ‘different’ especially things that require more creative heart/ brainpower, I feel like it has been incredibly important for me to set goals. asking myself WHAT/ HOW MUCH / BY WHEN?? is the formula that always helps me to create actionable goals for my family. actionable goals that still allow for flexibility and creativity. actionable goals that help us in doing ‘something new’. thinking about how I imagine them using the space and what we truly want to accomplish.
SUPPLIES //
i read somewhere before that a maker-space is a mindset, not a place and I couldn’t agree more!!! considering your purpose and your goals is ket here! you could choose art supplies, crafting supplies, building supplies and more. poppa is into building/structure and electricals, while bear is led by coding and electronic bits and lady’s joy is in beadwork/sewing crafting and more. starting w/ supplies that serve those interest is the goal.
my best suggestion is to START OFF SHOPPING YOUR OWN SPACES! house hunt, check the garage, the closets, the kitchen and beyond. see what you can find. cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls, tape, glue, batteries, twine, rubber bands… gather what you have first and build from there. i know that the ‘blogger correct’ thing would be to link all the items that are displayed in the pictures on this post but dare I say that I feel that it might do more harm than good in this case.
incline your heart and mind toward creativity and not things…
pull out a basket or a bag and treasure hunt your spaces with the kids. it’ll make for an exciting adventure. take a photo of what you found and share w/ us @thefallcofamily… we love that kind of stuff, lol.
ORGANIZE //
seriously, this part is so important. whatever space(s) you might have chosen defining homes for your materials and tools is where its at. the kids an i have been meditating on the word EFFICIENCY lately and its base word is defined as such…
efficient [ ih-fish-uhnt ]- adjective
performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort; having and using requisite knowledge, skill, and industry
utilizing a particular commodity or product with the least waste of resources or effort
we love a good definition don’t we?!? understanding that bins/baskets/boxes can help us contain our materials and provide homes for our rescources and labels help make it easier for us to keep them there is important. homes that are well defined and organized mean that we are able to be most efficient in our time building, tinkering, crafting, making!
STEWARDING YOU SPACES //
in addition to good organization, we are able to maintain a level of gratitude, appreciation and understanding for what we are given and the purpose by which its been given to us by creating routines, and using procedures. helping us stay organized and keep our spaces clean and ready to explore, solve problems and innovate, being good stewards of our spaces takes work, requires discipline and a foundational structure on which they are able to build good habits.
PROCESS & DESIGN //
oh this one frienndddsss…. the engineering design process is golden and isn’t shared enough in my opinion. it is really a process that encourages us to be thinkers, to consider problems, experiment, test and implement solutions. it is a gem, for sure. it has taken us a bit of work to get my makers to sketch out a plan. jumping right into things w/ no written idea/plan isn’t reccomened around here. getting him to understand that sketching a design is less about receiving an assignment and more about documenting the journey has been a challenge. but, he has finally found the purpose of such a thing.
the engineering process is hung on his wall right beside many blueprints/sketches and designs and he is appreciating the parts of the process more and more everyday.
ASK / RESEARCH / IMAGINE / PLAN / CREATE / TEST / IMPROVE
my suggestion is to post it up somewhere…
IDEAS STARTERS //
some people like prompts/cards and challenges and all of these are great. we tend to start like we start with everything else in our homeschool and lives. first a statement of curiosity (aka a question) and then we make our way to a BOOK…
{ makerspace library favorites }
my last thought on customizing a maker-space w/ purpose & love can be found all in and throughout every bit of this process that we tend to lean into and that is
COLLABORATE //
everything we do is so much better when we do it together. chiming in to encourage one another, offer up another perspective, consider a new idea, imagine how we can join forces to make things more magical. collaboration is king and a considerable force.
it is also the last thing w/ add to our own personal engineering process just after improvisation we give our hearts to PRESENTATION. our homeschool is rooted in effectively communicating thoughts, ideas and creations in order to share w/ the world! weather that ‘world’ consist of grandparents, friends, neighbors or our innanet (internet) friennnnddssss… the goal is to write, speak, love in a language we call LEARNING.
THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR ADVENTURES FRIENDSSSSS…
ask us any questions you might have & we’ll tell you no lies, lol. this journey is CHALLENGING and worth every bit of difficulties it brings. here’s to making it magical and keep the curiosities and love of learning alive!
with all the love,
syreena