Social-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects is chock-full of meaningful projects that educators can use to teach social-emotional skills in grades 3-6. Included are:
- Dozens of engaging projects that address social-emotional skills.
- Strategies for scaffolding passion projects and funding one's Makerspace.
- Tips for building community and celebrating diversity.
- Direct connections to social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, self-management, and self-awareness.
- Advice to scaffold students' learning from start to finish.
Students will learn how to create a digital calming room, prototype an inclusive playground, and make recycled cards (that use paper circuits) to spread kindness. Young makers will learn how to create a personalized toolkit for self-regulation and self-care, engage in community outreach by making scarves and neck warmers for struggling families, and tell their own stories with podcasting, green screening, and digital storytelling.
Social-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects is chock-full of meaningful projects that educators can use to teach social-emotional skills in grades 3-6.
1. Use Cardboard to Build Community
2. Use Paper to Spread Kindness and Raise Awareness
3. Use Fabric to Help Others in Your Community
4. Share our Stories and Learn about others through Audio and Video Production
5. Facilitate Passion Projects
6. Fund and Supply Your Makerspace
7. Management, Trainings and Volunteers
Julie Darling is the Founder of Growing Makerspace, LLC and the Media Specialist at the A2 STEAM school in Ann Arbor, MI. She built a makerspace for kids from the ground up and has taught kids technology and maker activities for over 17 years. You can follow her on her website: https://growingmakerspace.com/
