Making.....Three New Ideas To Try

 Well, new to me!  From our lecture this week, I loved and immediately attached to Black Out Poetry (Makerspaces Summer, 2021).  I think I am going to try that with our classes as soon as they do their poetry units!  One reason I attached to that so quickly is I can do that kind of "making" in my library. I have the space, supplies, and budget for paper projects and making.  

Leaves block out certain pieces of text in a book.
Photo from Pixabay

As I sorted through all that there was to learn in this week's module on making, I am running the information through a filter that acknowledges that I operate 2 small libraries - each the size of one standard classroom and each housing about 10,000 books.  I have about 2 tables in each room and no closets!  

A picture of me in my library.

After a major weeding project last summer with more books to weed, I can find many pages of text to use for such a project.  I am excited to do this kind of making.  This concept also appeals to my ideas related to the question that everyone likely asks - what is making.  Again from the lecture in the module (Makerspaces Summer, 2021) I appreciated hearing a professor acknowledge that "making" is not easily defined and it certainly doesn't require a 3D printer.  I love the idea that verbal people who aren't tinkerers can also be makers.  

As for the tinkerers, I did find this great blog - The Daring Librarian - that really focused on making with no budget.  She showed photos of her students donating legos and some of the building projects they made with TP and PT rolls that were painted and notched.  Because I have already noticed that my students LOVE it when I simply put out the whiteboards and dry-erase markers - I don't even have to suggest or assign a task - they are just drawn to them (no pun intended). I see now that I can just start by setting out tinkering supplies and see what happens.  It could be related to a lesson (like novel engineering), but it doesn't have to be.  So now I am dedicated to the idea of sitting out some blocks (lego or otherwise) and puzzles this week to see what kind of interest that brings.  I think I will ask for paper towel rolls to be donated then I can cut different sizes.  I think I will let families keep their toilet paper rolls, LOL.

Faceless android sitting with lego-like blocks.
Photo from Pixabay

The Daring Librarian also blogged about a Making Starter Kit which had ideas that were really easy to put to use in any library - even mine (crayons, coloring books, etc.).  Her blog also has entries on other topics that are very appealing - her latest one is germane to this class as its title is It's OK to Date New Technologies, You Don't Have to Marry It.  Lastly, I am definitely going to take her idea of origami and run with it - I have origami books that are rarely checked out and paper and scissors.  I can't wait to see what the students choose to do with this!  

The last idea that really resonated with me was the Making Grid: Cut, Attach, Build that Dr. Moorefield-Lang attributed to Maggie Melo from UNC and shared in her lecture (Makerspaces Summer, 2021).  This is just like the way I learned to make my own salad dressings!  An oil + an acid + a sweetener (one of my favorites is Dill Olive Oil + Lemon Balsamic + honey).  I think I can get into this - Cut with your hands, use a glue stick and build with junk mail.  Yes!  Who doesn't love a formula?

Formulas, donated items, small space projects -- all parts of making I can relate to and hopefully use!  

My to-do list:

1.  Black Out Poetry - find text pages and black markers

2.  Put out paper and origami books

3.  Ask for donated materials for building blocks

4.  Subscribe to the Daring Librarian

5.  Subscribe to TechFifteen on YouTube

Reference:

Makerspaces Summer. (2021, May 18). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQ6B4UnZaA