Let Their Voices Be Heard!

At the end of the June session, students completed a survey to reflect on the makerspace activities offered and the books that were used during our class read alouds to introduce an idea or theme.

For Example: The curriculum suggested 5 rotations paired with the read aloud, Rosie Revere, Engineer, to allow students to explore the concept/skill: "How Things Work." Note: If you haven't seen this book by Andrea Beaty, it is one of my new favorites. I give it a 5-Star Rating, hands down!
 
Materials
*Gears, Gears, Gears (K & 1st grade)
*Legos (all grades)
*Magna-Tiles (K & 1st grade)
*Strawbees (2/3 & 4/5 classes)
*Marble Run Races (all grades)

Through my experience with my three children, I felt that our family collection of  "Smart Links" would be another valuable resource to further students' exploration in "How Things Work." Just a small handful of students in each class were familiar with them. Teachers picking up their classes also commented on the materials and inquired what they were and where they may also get a set for their classroom. One teacher excitedly reported the next day she had found a set to purchase through Amazon.
 
Since my class served grades K-5, I created surveys based on what I felt each class could manage. I felt 10 questions with emoji type answer choices for Kindergarten (those entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2017) would be just enough. Students in 1st grade had a two part hard copy survey for two reasons: 
The Homeroom teachers agreed to give a small survey within their class, so I felt that I should honor that using 10 questions with emoji type answer choices.  The master schedule gave 1st grade classes four weekly sessions of Makerspace vs. the three weekly sessions most of the other Homerooms had. This allowed for 1st grade to experience more Makerspace rotations and extra read alouds.

2017 Explore! Makerspace Survey

Kindergarten (2-sided Handout completed with Homeroom Teacher)

1st Grade (Pages 1 & 2 completed with Homeroom Teacher, Pages 3 & 4 completed during the last Library Day after the last class read aloud) 

Grades 2/3 & 4/5 (Online Google Survey completed on the last Library Day)