This year our Librarian and a Grade 4/5 class have been collaborating together on a Learning Environment and Spaces Inquiry Grant that focused on our Makerspace. Part of their focus was to explore how they could expand the use of woodworking materials and tools in the Makerspace to positively impact school learning.

   They acquired a wood planer to try to make more intricate design pieces. Younger students learned how to use a hammer and nails, while the older students made more complex projects and built upon skills previously taught.

   The teachers involved found that adding to the woodworking materials and experiences in our permanent Makerspace greatly increased student interest, as students appear to enjoyed designing with their peers to build functional products. Providing additional exposure to handy life and trade skills (hammering, sawing, measuring, and drilling, etc.) benefited students and increased their comfort and confidence to work with larger and more complex tools. Students also learned about mindful use of materials, as they were provided limits in the materials used so they wouldn’t waste materials.

   The teachers involved observed that students learned about safe risk-taking by diversifying the materials they used and building comfort and confidence with the different tools. Teachers also felt students developed their communication skills by learning to navigate the sharing of ideas and presenting their creations during a play and share expo. They saw examples of students being able to problem-solve design failures to build resilience and adaptability skills when their designs didn’t work.