In this project, young makers use a vinyl cutter to cut and score geometric nets, connecting 2D shapes to 3D prisms, polyhedrons, etc. They learn to recognize the difference between two and three-dimensions, while also seeing a relationship between the two. Lastly, this is a great opportunity for fine motor skill practice. The plastic requiresContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: Making Geometric Nets with Vinyl Cutter”
Tag Archives: Education
Making a Makerspace: What Do We Make Here? Some Capabilities and Tools for Your Educational Makerspace
This is Part 3 in my Making a Makerspace series. If this interests you, catch parts one and two. A makerspace is a space for a group of interesting and creative people to make something. Makerspaces differ from traditional constructional spaces in schools such as woodshops, auto mechanics shops, tech labs, etc because making bringsContinue reading “Making a Makerspace: What Do We Make Here? Some Capabilities and Tools for Your Educational Makerspace”
Community Watch: Build a Box on Nov. 2 & 3
Some people say that hand-made gifts are the best gifts to receive. Others, like myself, say hand-made gifts are the best to give. Still others, namely fishermen and women, claim teaching a skill may be the best gift of all. Whichever you are, I’m teaching Build A Box on Nov. 2 & 3rd at TX/RXContinue reading “Community Watch: Build a Box on Nov. 2 & 3”
Making a Makerspace: Planning the Steamworks
This fall, I move into a brand-spanking new classroom. As part of this move, I’ve been heavily involved in the planning, organizing and logistics of moving my school’s Math & Science program into our new digs. In the words of a close colleague of mine, what a great problem to have! Long term readers ofContinue reading “Making a Makerspace: Planning the Steamworks”
Community Watch: Build a Bench Is Complete!
Of the three or so classes I’ve taught at TX/RX Labs and the twenty to thirty projects I’ve taught at work, the simple bench project remains my favorite. It is an intermediate level project which can be reached by absolute beginners, it’s cheap to build (approximately $15 w/ finish) and it lends itself to multipleContinue reading “Community Watch: Build a Bench Is Complete!”
This Week in the Classroom: Pantographs
My school spends a lot of time, energy and financial resources on project-based learning. In my experience, teachers use project-based learning as a catch-all term for anything from make-it-take-it projects which last twenty minutes to inquiry-driven, rubric-graded, long-term explorations. Calling the former project-based learning is lazy and misdirection. Creating incredible experiences for students with theContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Pantographs”
Classroom Project: Try Squares
In my Applied Mathematics class, woodshop has put the shop in applied. During a unit on fractions, I asked students to build a number of these try squares, all different shapes and sizes. In order to assess my students ability to read a ruler and calculate fractions, I made all the dimensions wonky. No 8″Continue reading “Classroom Project: Try Squares”
This Week in the Classroom: Rulers & Frames
Applied Math Made Easy, a hands-on, application-heavy curriculum designed by a pair of teachers from Wisconsin, has a number of great math labs and activities. Using worksheets to convey directions and learning, the curriculum utilizes a conversationalist tone and “interactive reading” (their term, not mine) to let students learn middle school to high school level mathematicsContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Rulers & Frames”
Community Watch: Build A Box!
Eight students, six boxes built and finished. It was a long day in the shop – nearly seven hours with only a few breaks for liquids. I can think of a number of great moments: the first box getting nailed together, the last coat of shellac being applied, the look of what-have-I-got-myself-into as the students tackledContinue reading “Community Watch: Build A Box!”
Community Watch: It’s Build a Box Day!
Today at TX/RX Labs, I’ll be leading a class in building a few of these tea boxes. I’m sending a box to one random contestant on WoodshopCowboy Facebook page, just in time for Christmas. Remember to like WoodshopCowboy on Facebook! And remember: Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this weekend.
WSC Designs 