Take a quick read of our first blogpost from our Explorers@MakerSpace (E@MS) event! Feel free to leave a comment and share this post, and be sure to join us in our next event!
On 19 March 2022, we had our first Explorers@MakerSpace (E@MS) in our C3.16 Playpen for Teachers! This month’s theme is Recyclables, and we explore to answer the question:
How can we recycle and reuse everyday items, and repurpose them into meaningful & DAP resources for children?
Here are some of our key discoveries from the event! We used provocations (recyclables) to engage in paper-making and creating our own musical instruments.
Summary of Events
For this event, we had two main activities: Paper-making and Crafting music instruments. We also made use of other materials provided in the Makerspace to aid us in our exploration of the use of recycled materials.
We used trial and error to determine how to get the thickness, texture and look for the paper just right. We began with soaking magazine paper.
Then we explored by adding food colouring, leaves and flowers. We started off using a hair dryer to dry the paper, then we moved into using the fan and ultimately discovered the drying function in our new high-tech steriliser!
At the same time, some of us were making our very own DIY rain-maker and shakers with the use of kitchen towel rolls, beads and other materials. We discovered that there were many possibilities to create different instruments with the same materials.
After the planned activities, we embarked on an open-ended team project with the goal of creating something to add to our Makerspace, while exploring the various materials we had. As we explored the different materials, brainstormed and bounced ideas off each other, we created some hanging artefacts,and games such as Plinko and Carrom.
We used CDs, mini plastic containers, cellophane paper, string, cardboard --- and we’ll leave the pictures below to tell the rest of the story!
As we engaged in this process, we realised that recyclables serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose. The aesthetic or decoration element allows us (and children) to appreciate sustainable alternatives to aid in classroom decoration, and functionally there are many recycled options such as games.
We hope you enjoy reading our discoveries in the Makerspace! Do comment on other suggestions we can explore and what discoveries intrigued you in the comments below! Thank you and see you in the next E@MS!
Writers
Publicity: Lee Kia Kiat, Natalie Choo
COL: Rasnaam Kaur, Adela Rusli