Lima Senior High School is creating a space for students to think, play and create and is accepting items from the community to help stock the space.
Makerspaces are popping up in schools around the country. They are unique spaces (learning environments) that encourage tinkering, play and open-ended exploration. At Lima Senior, it is a large under-used classroom/lab that is being transformed by students and staff.
The large classroom is split into two areas. One is focused on technology, while the other is “wet space” – an area for things like projects, art, constructing and building. It also includes collaboration spaces.
An important piece of a Makerspace is for it to be student driven. Students are given room to explore, think on their own, ask questions, come up with ideas and create. It is very hands-on with students taking ownership of the space.
The space is already getting used by some classes. Teachers can bring students to the area for hands-on projects that go along with learning happening in the classroom.
The Makerspace also keeps larger and messy projects out of the classroom, making that space cleaner and more organized.
For now, teachers will use the space during class time, but the goal is for it to eventually be available to students before and after school and during open times during the school day. Officials also hope to work with the community and to invite guest teachers and “mystery makers” into the space.
A team of staff members visited Maumee Schools last school year to get ideas from its Makerspace. Lima Senior STEM Club students are taking the lead and brainstorming about what Lima Senior’s space will be.
The school recently received a Martha Holden Jennings grant totally $15,759 to be used for the Makerspace.
There is not much the school can’t use in the Makerspace. It will take items like cardboard, duct tape, paint, paint brushes, old books and magazines, scissors, clay, paper towel rolls, tools, rubber bands, straws, beads, yard, construction paper, hot glue guns, wire, pencils, foam, newspaper, old hardware, plastic tubs of all sizes and old small electronics.
Items can be dropped off during the school day in the main office at Lima Senior.
The school is also looking for sponsors and will accept monetary donations for large, more costly items. For more information or to become a sponsor or make a donation, call 419-996-3510.
