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We have been exploring chain reactions at the Museum for years.  Building tracks and paths for balls to roll on is a fun activity that teaches persistence, prototyping and teamwork.  Recently I taught two separate classes centered around chain reactions.  One was with a group of second graders from the Ellis School.  Their science teacher wanted to expand upon her students’ learning with a trip to MAKESHOP. The

[Crystal, one of our 2014 summer Maker Corps members — and now a MAKESHOP Educator! — reflects on facilitating recycled sculpture activities] Of my time spent in MAKESHOP this summer, one of the most remarkable activities I facilitated was Recycled Sculpture. For those of you who haven’t been to the MAKESHOP, Recycled Sculpture is an activity that is set up for visitors to create their own works of

Throughout the month of August we built our very own Skyworld. We have made cardboard cities and underwater aquariums but never a world in the sky. What would a Skyworld need? What would be the preferred mode of transportation? Where would people live, eat and work? A lot of these questions were answered throughout the month as visitors added their own creations to Skyworld. We were able to get our Exhibits Team to r

I love our laser cutter. It’s a machine that uses a power beam of energy to burn through things. How cool is that?! The only thing I love more than the laser cutter (sorry, loom, you’ve been temporarily replaced) is putting odd things into the laser cutter. Cookies Nilla Wafers work really nicely, because the burned design shows up well against the light-colored cookie. Wood (Painted) Wood isn’t a v

We have made several large, community projects in our workshop space before. Visitors have helped to create cardboard cities, newspaper sculptures and forts. For our recent “Free Admission” day at the Museum (and to celebrate the beginning of summer) our workshop was transformed into an underwater aquarium. Visitors spent the next couple of days filling the aquarium with fish, sea turtles, underwater cars

A wedding is a great excuse to make stuff. In the case of my recent matrimony there were a lot of hand made things. My wife and I (along with some other helpers) spent the last year making decorations, invitations and other essential wedding materials. It started off with the creation of our “save the date” announcements. These went through a couple of prototyping stages before we settled on a final produ