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Maker Lab

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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: 

  • Woodworking

  • TinkerCad and 3D Printing

  • 3D paper modeling

  • Mechanics (automata)

  • Laser Cutter and other Tool Competency

Future Advanced Units 

  • Internet of Things - Using Particle Chip 

  • Little Robotic Arm - DIY 3D printed robotic arm

  • Quadcopters and UAV's

  • Electric Go-carts

 Class Resources

Cardboard Automata 

 Other Resources and Fun Projects

Articles and Research on Making

Construction Updates

 Here is a 360 degree view of the Maker Lab taken on May 5, 2016