Maker Lab
Welcome to the Steindorf Maker Lab!
Use this link to get to my special Distance Learning Webpage for grades K-8.
The Maker Lab is a creative space staffed by Cambrian teacher Rick Schertle - schertler@cambriansd.com. The over 3000 square foot double-wide lab classroom is an area for K-8 students to create, learn, build, share and play. See links on the left for programs related to specific grade levels. For the 2021-2022 school year, Rick teaches two 6th grade, two 7th grade and two 8th grade classes two times a week, two 3rd grade, two 4th grade and two 5th grade classes once a week. Steindorf is one of the few public schools with a full-time makerspace teacher.
CA STEAM Symposium Paticipants - Thanks for the wonderful turn-out for my talk at the STEAM Symposium. My Presentation is Here and Handout Here.
Rick's presentation for Digital Taipei 2018.
The K-8 program relolves around the Engineering Design Process of Ask - Imagine - Plan - Create - Improve from Engineering is Elementary. See a great summary at: Engineering Design Process.
Program for Middle School
Middle Schoolers are scheduled into the Maker Lab one day every other week for 80 minutes (block schedule) and one day a week for 45 minutes. Along with supporting the PBL's going in in the middle school, we rotate through the following units:
Mini Units
We'll duck in and out of the rotation above to do some of the following:
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Woodworking
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TinkerCad and 3D Printing
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3D paper modeling
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Mechanics (automata)
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Laser Cutter and other Tool Competency
Future Advanced Units
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Internet of Things - Using Particle Chip
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Little Robotic Arm - DIY 3D printed robotic arm
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Quadcopters and UAV's
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Electric Go-carts
Class Resources
Cardboard Automata
- Micro-Gripper Claw - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:715525/makes
- Bamboo Copter (Taketombo) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo-copter
- Japanese Paper Craft - http://craftel.org/index.html
- http://tinkering.exploratorium.edu/cardboard-automata
- http://www.cabaret.co.uk/artists/peter-markey/
- http://www.opticaltoys.com/markey.htm
- http://www.clohe-movingtoys.eu/www/Home_EN/Automata_Gallery_Intro.htm
Other Resources and Fun Projects
- Chain Reaction with Makey Makey and Strawbees - https://www.instructables.com/Chain-Reactions-With-Strawbees-and-Makey-Makey/
- Using TinkerCAD to make a custom Pez Dispenser. Includes measureing with calipers - https://www.instructables.com/Make-Your-Own-PEZ-Dispenser/
- How to use Calipers - https://www.instructables.com/Innovator-Kit/
- Dyson Foundation (Engineering Design Activities) - https://www.jamesdysonfoundation.com/resources/design-process-box.html
- Dream Big (Engineering Film) Resources - https://dreambigfilm.com/education/
- Design, Do, Discover - https://making.marymountnyc.org/page/events/design-do-discover
- Agency By Design - http://www.agencybydesign.org/
- TED Talk - Jen Ryan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI2cMyOZVgE
- Project H - http://www.projecthdesign.org/
- TED Talk - Emily Pilliton - https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_pilloton_teaching_design_for_change#t-424009
- A Time for a Mess - https://medium.com/@TheTech/a-time-for-mess-98b047fc4dde
Articles and Research on Making
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Clearinghouse for Maker Ed Resources including the free PDF Maker Space Playbook - http://makered.org/
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Stocking a School Maker Space - http://makezine.com/2013/08/21/stocking-up-school-makerspaces/
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https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/14/why-academic-teaching-doesnt-help-kids-excel-in-life/
Construction Updates
Here is a 360 degree view of the Maker Lab taken on May 5, 2016