MakerPlace is a large workspace where people can go to make a variety of goods. They have just about every machine and tool you can think of - from laser cutters, to 3D printers, to sewing machines! Click here to visit the MakerPlace website to learn more about this amazing space.
We had the privilege of spending the day with Mr. Brian, the person that started MakerPlace. He started our day by giving us a tour of the space. This is when we learned about many fascinating materials and saw some craftsmen in action. One craftsman even gave us some of his wooden CA state keychains made from the laser cutter machine!
Then, it was time for us to start our own project. We put on our protective goggles and face masks and got to work! First, students built their own book box. We agreed that we should practice building before trying to build a little library for others. Mr. Brian used the students' blueprints to cut the wood ahead of time. Then students sanded, glued, operated a nail gun (with the help from Mr. Brian), and painted their book box. They were so excited to take them home!
After building our book boxes, we felt ready to tackle the Little Library. We followed the same steps as when we made our book boxes - sand, glue, nail gun. We are going to save the painting for later, once we interview the preschoolers to learn more about how they would want the library to look.
The library looks amazing! Even better, it is very accurate to the blueprints we worked so hard on. It was really exciting to see our blueprints "come to life" and see that all of that hard work was worth it!
We all love the library so much! We were fortunate to be able to make two, which is a good thing because students are already suggesting that HTeNC needs one as well :) Stay tuned to learn more about how we decide to paint the library, and our plan for fundraising!
Here are some pictures from our fieldwork: