Resources and projects
The Maker{School} approach to learning enables children to gain specific skills in making to enhance their knowledge and understanding in any and all curriculum areas. Each project contains the same three elements:
Project planning template
Create your own Maker{School} project. This template is designed to support your thinking. We use the Maker{Cycle} to iterate our project planning; continually reflecting and refining. We use our expertise, experience and intuition to make changes in response to what we notice and feel.
Maker{School} project template.docx'Think like an Engineer' classroom projects
Ten projects designed with real engineers and covering a range of engineering disciplines.
EYSF - Y6
Circuits and Craft
Make a safe electronic sparkler
Y1 - Y6
Cardboard cutting and construction
Make a box theatre to tell a story
Y1 - Y3
Materials attachment and prototyping
Design and build a boat to meet the criteria
Y4 - Y6
Metal and simple machines
Develop a moving model using a crankshaft
Y2 - Y3
Cardboard construction
Design, build and test a paper plane launcher
Y3 - Y6
Digital Literacy: stop motion animation
Produce a stop motion animation campaign film
Y4 - Y6
Sewing
Make a mighty microbe soft toy
Y2 - Y3
Materials and chemistry
Expressive artwork or make a pencil grip
Y4 - Y6
Paper and construction
Design and make a piece of furniture
Y3 - Y6
Digital Literacy: augmented reality
Build a virtual zoo
Risk Assessment Master copy.pdfRisk assessments for each project along with some general risks associated with practical activities.
Cardboard and paper classroom projects
Electronics and circuit projects
Maths projects
Y5 - Y6
Discover how maths can be useful in everyday life
Make decisions and predictions
Digital literacies animation
Early years projects
These resources have been developed by the Maker{Futures} programme and our previous project on making in the Early Years - MakEY.
Guidance notes
Useful resources and links
A powerful example of physical and digital making linked to an area of the curriculum. Take a look at The Story of Migration on the PositiveNegatives website.
Astrid Poot is a thinker and maker from the Netherlands. She has produced a series of wonderful resources exploring making and schools. You can visit her brilliant website here
Here are some of our favourites...
"Making is where work and play are in perfect harmony"
We are currently beta testing this 3D design software, aimed at primary age children, which enables them to create 3D shapes and scenes online with no specialist software. Check out the tutorial, have a go and let us know what you think.
Visit www.makerart3d.com.
How do we become a Maker{School}?
You can register your interest in becoming a Maker{School} and join our mailing list. Take a look at how our awards process works or get in touch with the Maker{Futures} team to find out more.