Students use a light board and their endless
imagination to construct geometric shapes in a
makerspace.
Westwood Elementary
The Future is Bright
Maker Spaces
A Makerspace is a place where students
can get together to invent, create, tinker,
and explore using a variety of materials and
technology. Think of it as a 21st century do-
it-yourself-shop class. It is an environment
where one is only limited by one’s imagination.
Makerspace activities mix all aspects of
STEM- Science Technology, Engineering and
Math with solving real-world problems and
developing lifelong problem solvers. These
spaces naturally draw students in as they enjoy
the freedom of creating their own learning.
STEAM Lab
Students celebrate Westwood Elementary’s 50th birthday with a 50s
Sock Hop Day.
The STEAM lab offers students an opportunity
to work together in small groups to complete
an engineering challenge. Each grade level
completes ten challenges throughout the school
year. During the challenges,students learn how
to collaborate, make a plan, problem solve
and question each other with reasonableness
and higher level thinking. The students’ level
of thinking is raised, and they are excited to
accept new challenges!
http://westwoodelemlibrary.weebly.com/
16
Students collaborate and use
problem solving skills together while
building bridges during STEAM lab.
Three young ladies use the green
screen space and an iPad to create a
retelling of a story on crazy sock day
during makerspace time.